Texas Legislature Passes $302.6 Billion Budget with Tax Cuts and Raises for Teachers and State Employees.

The Texas House has approved a $302.6 billion state spending plan for the next two years, which includes pay raises for state employees, tax cuts, and more mental health services. The budget plan also leaves tens of billions of dollars in unspent general revenue available. The plan passed on a vote of 136-10, with a handful of Democrats and two Republicans voting against it. The budget now goes to the Senate Finance Committee, which has been readying its own proposal that is significantly different from the House version.