Texas Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa said on the campaign trail that she would direct the state legislature to pass a bill issuing one-time $1,500 refund checks to every household — what she called a Corruption Tax Refund.
A Texas Democrat has filed a bill in the state Senate that takes the first step toward turning the campaign promise into reality, but it faces challenges because the party controls only the state House, while Republicans hold the Senate majority.
This bill and the campaign promise are part of a larger platform the Texas Democrats ran on during the midterms — addressing the state's affordability crisis.
Here's what Hinojosa's campaign pitched and what the proposed bill says and would do if passed.
Texas' $1,500 refund bill proposal
Democratic state Sen. Roland Gutierrez
of San Antonio filedSenate Bill 297 on Nov. 9 to create a one-time $1,500 payment for qualifying Texas households, funded with up to $17 billion from the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund— also known as the state's “Rainy Day Fund.”
The bill does not impose an income limit for eligibility, and homeownership, employment or other conditions would not disqualify someone from receiving the refund.
However, to get this bill onto the governor's desk immediately, it would require two-thirds of all the members elected to the Texas House and Senate to approve it.
If it does not receive the vote needed to take effect immediately, the bill would take effect September 1, 2027. If passed, the Comptroller's office would oversee the payments, and Texans could see the money as soon as the law takes effect.
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas, based in Austin. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas $1,500 refund bill filed, but faces GOP Senate hurdle
