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Bill

HJR 5

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.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Brian Birdwell and 18 co-sponsors

Constitutional amendment creates dedicated capital funding for Texas technical colleges while removing them from traditional university funding streams.

Left pending in committee
#comptrollerofpublicaccounts(v2608) #education--higher--finance(i0232) #education--higher--institutions&programs(i0223) #resolutions--constitutionalamendments(i0661) #statefinances--appropriations(i0746) #statefinances--management&control(i0748) #texasstatetechnicalcollegesystem(u0010)
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Bill Summary · HJR 5

Legislative bill overview

HJR 5 proposes a constitutional amendment that would create dedicated funding mechanisms for the Texas State Technical College System's capital infrastructure needs. The amendment would simultaneously remove the technical college system from participating in existing constitutionally dedicated higher education funding streams that currently serve traditional universities.

Why is this important

This restructuring could significantly affect how technical education is financed in Texas, potentially providing more stable, predictable capital funding for facilities at technical colleges while separating them financially from the traditional university system. The change has implications for both the adequacy of technical education infrastructure and the funding available to traditional public universities that currently share the dedicated revenue stream.

Potential points of contention

  • Winners and losers: Traditional universities may receive a larger share of existing dedicated funds, but technical colleges need sufficient new funding sources to avoid capital infrastructure deficits
  • Funding sufficiency: Whether newly created dedicated funds for technical colleges will be adequate and reliable compared to the previous shared funding arrangement
  • Equity and access: Questions about whether this separation strengthens or weakens workforce development through technical education, particularly for lower-income students who depend on these institutions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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