From the Texas Tribune: Texas House and Senate propose similar spending amounts in preliminary budgets

 A look at the current budgeting process for the state.

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Texas leaders in the state House and Senate have each proposed budgets that spend $119.7 billion in general revenue for the next two fiscal years, signifying notable agreement on the top lines as lawmakers try to draft a state spending plan while they confront the coronavirus pandemic.

The proposals from the two chambers, issued first on Thursday by the Senate and then by the House, are about $7 billion over the amount of general revenue Comptroller Glenn Hegar said lawmakers have to spend during the session.

State lawmakers are required to pass a balanced budget, meaning they will have to either cut down that spending later in the budgeting process, delay spending on certain items until a later budget cycle or tap into the state’s rainy day fund to pay for some of its expenses, among other accounting maneuvers budget writers could use.

Hegar last week estimated the state’s general revenue at $112.5 billion for the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years, but cautioned lawmakers that his projection was “clouded in uncertainty,” as the coronavirus pandemic continues to upend daily life.

Legislative Reference Library: Budget  Process.