Texas House Bill HJR39

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the dedication by general law of revenue of or money received by this state and money held in or deposited to an account or fund inside or outside the state treasury and the authorized expenditure or appropriation of revenue or money dedicated by general law.

Impact

The proposed amendment would have significant implications on state laws surrounding finance and appropriation procedures. By allowing the legislature to dedicate funds by general law, it could ensure that specific revenue streams are allocated for designated programs or services, thus increasing transparency and accountability in state spending. However, it also limits the flexibility of fund reallocation, as once dedicated, those funds cannot be utilized for other purposes without a strict legislative process.

Summary

HJR39 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution regarding the handling of state revenue and funds. Specifically, the amendment enables the Texas legislature to dedicate revenue or money received by the state for particular purposes through general law. This summarization signifies an intent to provide a structured approach to how state funds are appropriated and ensures that once funds are dedicated, they can only be used for specified purposes unless a subsequent law amends that direction by a two-thirds majority vote of both legislative houses.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding HJR39 could stem from concerns over governmental authority and local control. Critics might argue that the ability to dedicate revenue could lead to inflexibility in addressing unforeseen financial needs or changing priorities within the state. Some stakeholders may raise concerns about whether this process affords lawmakers too much power over budgetary decisions, potentially sidelining input from local governments and communities that could be affected by these financial decisions.