This is a preview of our Texas 2036 newsletter about the upcoming 88th Texas Legislative Session. To receive this weekly highlight of our work, sign up here.
The Population’s Bigger in Texas 📈
A History of Growth: For nearly two centuries, Texas has been a place of discovery, exploration and possibility.
- By 2036, our state is expected to be home to nearly 10 million more Texans.
More to Come: That growth represents significant opportunity, but past prosperity does not equal future success.
- We need to think strategically to prepare for the challenges that come with current and future expansion.
All Eyes on Us: Texas gained more new residents than any other state in the country from July 2021 to July 2022, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released last month.
- The state saw an increase of more than 470,000 people during that time, bringing Texas’ population to over 30 million.
👉 Dive deeper into the report.
New Year, New Legislative Session 🏛️
Preparing for Our Future: Texas’ 88th Legislative Session convenes on Jan. 10. With plenty of high-stakes interests at the forefront, we are focused on the issues that matter most to Texans.
- Texas 2036 is working to enable Texans to make policy decisions through accessible data, long-term planning and statewide engagement.
Areas of Focus: This session, our four priority areas are education and workforce, health care, infrastructure, and government performance.
- This includes our natural resources and justice and safety policy pillars.
👉 Learn more about our 2023 legislative agenda and top policy priorities.
An Unprecedented Budget Cycle 💰
What to Watch: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar will provide the state’s biennial revenue estimate on Monday, Jan. 9.
- He recently said, “… people will be shocked when I announce that the cash carry over balance in the treasury is greater than the $27 billion originally forecasted.”
Long-Term Impacts Without Long-Term Liabilities: Texas 2036 is focused on investments with a high-ROI that can improve agency performance, modernize state technology and help the state tackle generational challenges.
- This includes major one-time investments without recurring costs.
