AUSTIN — The Texas House late Thursday passed a $246.8 billion, two-year state budget that would move cautiously and delay spending tens of billions in forthcoming federal aid.
“These are one-time relief dollars,” said Rep. Greg Bonnen, the House’s chief budget writer, referring to nearly $35 billion in federal COVID-19 money already approved by Washington for the state and its public schools. The dollars appear likely to sit idle for months.
“We want to use them appropriately, so that we don’t create a dependence,” explained Bonnen, a Friendswood Republican.