Hinojosa: I am energized, focused, and ready to play defense and offense

Yesterday was the first day of the 89th Texas Legislature Regular Session. I was sworn in at noon for a four-year term. I appreciate the public officials, community leaders, and my constituents who made the trip to Austin for the ceremony and to meet with me at the Capitol.

We have much to address over the next 140 days. I am energized, focused, and ready to play defense and offense for the issues that matter to our families and communities. On Monday, Comptroller Glenn Hegar provided the Legislature with the Biennial Revenue Estimate, projecting an estimated $194.6 billion in General Revenue (state tax funds) available to spend for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This includes a nearly $24 billion surplus expected at the end of fiscal year 2025, which ends on August 31 of this year. The Comptroller also estimates that the Rainy Day Fund is expected to reach its constitutional cap of $28.5 billion.

Priority issues this session include funding for water infrastructure, additional investments in our public schools and a pay raise for teachers, expanding access to healthcare, supporting our institutions of higher education and workforce training organizations, making insurance more affordable, investing in the electric grid, funding research for Alzheimer’s disease, among others. In addition to these statewide issues, I will also be focused on securing funding for our local priorities and passing bills that address the needs outlined in legislative agendas that have been submitted to my office.

Throughout this process, I will advocate for the needs of the Rio Grande Valley and the Coastal Bend regions. I look forward to collaborating with the members of my legislative delegation in the Texas House, as well as all members of the Texas Senate, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dustin Burrows, and Governor Greg Abbott. Together we will work to keep the Texas economy strong!

Editor’s Note: The above commentary was provided by state Sen. Juan Hinojosa of McAllen at the start of the 89th Legislature. The commentary first appeared on Hinojosa’s social media platforms. It appears in the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service with the permission of the author.

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