This summer the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) sent out detailed instructions on Legislative Appropriation Request (LAR) [agency budget requests]. Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Joe Straus also sent a letter preceding the instructions to all state agencies directing them to reduce their budget requests by four percent for the 2018-2019 biennial budget with some exceptions.
The next step after agencies submit their LAR’s is for the LBB and the Governor’s Office of Budget, Planning and Policy to hold hearings with each agency concerning their LAR. These LARs form the basis for the appropriations bill prepared by the LBB and submitted to the Legislature.
That hearing schedule has been published which will include times and locations.
Spotlight on Budget Hearings
- Wednesday, August 24, 2016 – Public Utility Commission of Texas
- Wednesday, August 31, 2016 – Department of Agriculture
- Thursday, September 1, 2016 – Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- Tuesday, September 6, 2016 – Texas Water Development Board
- Wednesday, September 7, 2016 – Texas Department of Transportation
- Thursday, September 8, 2016 – Department of Information Resources and Alcoholic Beverage Commission
- Friday, September 9, 2016 – Department of Insurance
- Tuesday, September 13, 2016 – Comptroller of Public Accounts & Employees Retirement System
- Monday, September 19, 2016 – Texas Facilities Commission & Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor
- Tuesday, September 20, 2016 – Pension Review Board
- Wednesday, September 21, 2016 – Secretary of State
- Thursday, September 22, 2016 – Health and Human Services Commission & Department of Aging and Disability Services & Department of Family and Protective Services & Department of State Health Services
- Tuesday, September 27, 2016 – Teacher Retirement System
- Wednesday, September 28, 2016 – Texas Education Agency
- Thursday, October 6, 2016 – Railroad Commission
