Last week, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar advised lawmakers in the Texas Capitol of the state’s current fiscal position and forecasted the state economy’s growth for the next two years. Three takeaways from Hegar’s biennial revenue estimate: 1. The $24 billion surplus in the current budget is the second-largest in state history. To put this in context, between the 2015 and 2021 Sessions, the average surplus was $3 billion. 2. The $24 billion balance in the Rainy Day Fund is unprecedented since the state’s savings account was created 36 years ago and represents an $11 billion increase from just two years ago. 3. Texans are anticipated to pay $194 billion in state taxes over the next two years, which is a decline of only about 1 percent from what taxpayers paid during the last two years. To learn more about the strength of the world’s 8th largest economy, we recommend watching Comptroller Hegar’s interview with The Texas Tribune editor-in-chief Matthew Watkins. (fb)

On the opening day of the 2025 Texas Legislative Session, newly elected Speaker Dustin Burrows promised to prioritize the “Texas issues” of property tax relief, public education, infrastructure and public safety. In his first speech as Speaker, Burrows reminded his colleagues in the Texas Capitol of Sam Houston’s famous definition of leadership, “A leader is someone who helps improve the lives of other people or improve the system they live under.” As a new chapter for our state begins, effective lawmakers and engaged civic leaders have an opportunity to bridge divides and turn their attention to our most important shared Texas issue of improving the lives of Texans and the great state we call home. (fb)