With the end of committee hearings and with it, the furor of the last two weeks, we find ourselves 137 days deep into the 140-day, 84th Session of the Texas Legislature. And although the ink is not dry on the thousands of documents and bills that have passed between the two chambers – some on their way to the Governor's desk – I thought it time to provide you with a glimpse of some of the high profile issues that will show how Texas will align its policies with its resources. (Translated – put its money where its mouth is!)

There are two areas of state governance that consume the largest portions of the tax dollars that come to Austin: public education and Health and Human Services. That causes them also to be the most contentious, although debate over tax cuts, and open and campus carry rose to the same levels of philosophical discord. But that said, a lot was accomplished that will benefit the citizens of Texas. We could always do more. Here are some of the highlights.

Public Education
Texas will spend some $58.6 billion in General Revenue and GR-dedicated tax dollars on public education for the FY16-17 biennium. The budget adds $1.5 billion in new funds to the Foundation School Program over current appropriations. This includes $200 million to help school districts that were impacted by the 2006 property tax adjustments. The budget also includes $103 million for new instructional facilities in addition to $40.6 million for reading and math training academies for K-3 teachers. The new budget adds another $118 million to improve Pre-K programs. Of course there's a looming Texas Supreme Court ruling on whether or not we have done enough since the 2010-11 budget cycle to equitably and adequately fund public schools in Texas.

Higher Education
Funding was increased for TEXAS Grants so that roughly 91 percent of our best and brightest students who apply for a grant will be able to receive assistance.

Texas needs more medical professionals, so we added $60 million for graduate level medical education so that the goal of a 1.1 to 1 ratio can be reached in providing a residency slot for all Texas medical school graduates. With increased overall higher-ed spending, UNT-Dallas, the UNT-Dallas College of Law and UT Southwestern will all continue to grow and excel.

Teacher Retirement System
The Legislature approved $768 million to ensure that the Teacher Retirement System remains solvent so that benefits to our retired educators will not be interrupted.

Employee Retirement System
We eliminated the 90-day waiting period for new employees so that all state employees are able to contribute as well as earn benefits from day one. The Legislature also raised the state and employee retirement contributions to 9.5 percent. We added a 2.5 percent pay increase to help offset the cost of the increased employee contribution. By doing so, we get closer to achieving actuarial soundness for the employee pension fund.

Health and Human Services
Medicaid, the federal/state healthcare program will be fully funded for the 2016-17 budget cycle. We also fully funded Medicaid caseload growth. The budget includes $25 million more in general revenue for rural hospitals, an increase of $64.5 million for trauma centers and $128.7 in additional funds for Texas' safety net hospitals over the FY14-15 budget.

More state dollars will be spent to help address mental health. The $2.8 billion budgeted for the next biennium represents an increase of more than $244 million over the current budget. It includes $20 million to be spent on mental health services for veterans. There will be an additional $50 million available for psychiatric beds and $46.5 million to be used for outpatient mental health services and to reduce waiting lists. All impacted state agencies have been asked to work together to develop a coordinated plan for mental health care delivery.

Texas' controversial stance related to women's health services will be buffeted by an increase of $450 million in general revenue spending. That's on top of the additional $113 in funds added to the current state budget appropriated in 2013.

Child Protective Services, a division within the Department of Family and Protective Services received a $35 million increase in All Funds to help stop child abuse and neglect before it occurs. And caseworkers who serve on the front lines of our CPS system will receive a $13.3 million increase in General Revenue ($21.1 million in All Funds) in compensation.

Transportation
This session, we ended diversions from the state highway fund by redirecting $1.2 billion in funding that will now be spent on roads. The $1.2 billion will be in addition to the $2.4 billion over the biennium anticipated from Proposition 1 that was approved by voters last November.

Body Cameras
One of my goals for this Legislative Session was to pass a bill to provide body-worn cameras for use by law enforcement. It is done! With the passage of SB158, "the Body Camera Bill" the state has allocated $10 million to help fund a grant program to be administered out of the governor's office to help local police and sheriff's departments purchase body worn cameras. Just as important as the funding, SB158 also establishes statewide policy on the use of this tool that also provides greater transparency to the public.

Miscellaneous/Incentive Funds
Texas is actually the "Third Coast" when it comes to film/movie industry production. This growth has been aided by smart incentives - some that land close to home in the Dallas Metroplex. There will be more to come as this budget provides $32 million to the Film Incentives Fund.

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