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Bill filed to give every Texas household $1,500, a Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa campaign promise
The proposal would use up to $17 billion from the Rainy Day Fund, with no income limit and payments overseen by the Comptroller’s office.
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio filed Senate Bill 297 on Monday, proposing $1,500 payments to 11.6 million Texas households to fulfill a campaign pledge by Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa.
Legislation draws $17 billion from the state's Economic Stabilization Fund, also known as the "Rainy Day Fund," leveraging a legal exception for "public calamity" to bypass prohibitions against direct cash payments.
Verifying eligibility requires the Comptroller's office to use information "lawfully available to the comptroller or another state agency," ensuring households lived in Texas as of Jan. 1, 2027.
Approval requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers, presenting a significant hurdle in the GOP-dominated Senate where Democrats must secure support from nine Republicans.
Economist John Diamond of Rice University warned the cash injection could create pricing pressures; the bill takes effect September 1, 2027, if it fails to receive immediate approval.