HJR 5 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for the creation of funds to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System and removing that system and its campuses from the annual appropriation of certain constitutionally dedicated funding for public institutions of higher education.

HJR 5 proposes a constitutional amendment to create two dedicated funds supporting Texas State Technical College System (TSTC) capital projects and equipment. It establishes a "permanent technical institution infrastructure fund" for long-term capital needs (like buildings) and an "available workforce education fund" for immediate operational costs, both administered outside general state funding. This would remove TSTC from annual appropriations that typically apply to other public colleges, providing the system with guaranteed funding streams for infrastructure without competing for general higher education funds. The amendment requires specific distribution rules and prohibits using these funds for non-educational purposes.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 25, 2025 Last action May 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Engrossed · 5 edits · Apr 28, 2025
MODERATE
This bill was updated from its original introduction to an engrossed version, adding new funding provisions and clarifying the constitutional amendment's implementation timeline. The changes include a one-time $850 million appropriation to the permanent fund, updated effective dates for the new funds, and expanded eligibility rules for institutions of higher education. These modifications ensure the Texas State Technical College System receives dedicated funding for capital projects while removing it from general higher education appropriations.
Scope change
The bill now includes specific funding amounts, implementation dates, and expanded eligibility criteria for institutions of higher education that were not present in the original version.
FISCAL

Added a temporary provision authorizing an $850 million appropriation from the general revenue fund to the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund, expiring December 31, 2026.

TIMELINE

Established that the constitutional amendments take effect September 1, 2026, with the temporary provision expiring September 1, 2027.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new subsections clarifying which institutions of higher education are eligible to participate in dedicated funding and which are excluded.

TECHNICAL

Added a new subsection (n) allowing unspent appropriated funds to be retained and used in subsequent fiscal years for the same purpose.

Added a new subsection (n-1) specifying the one-time $850 million appropriation and its expiration date.

Floor votes · House Apr 29, 2025

How they voted

12715
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 144
Apr 29, 2025
D Democratic59
55 Yea 2 Nay 2
93% Yea
R Republican85
72 Yea 13 Nay
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
36
Key actions
9
Committee
9
Amendments
1
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Committee
Referred to Education K-16
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Adopted
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Introduced
Placed on Constitutional Amendments Calendar
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
Referred to Higher Education
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
6 primary · 13 co-sponsors

Sponsors