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The State Budget Cycle
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Texas is one of only four states that have biennial budgets and biennial legislative sessions. Texas’ two-year budget takes roughly twice that amount of time to prepare, produce and administer. Legislative Appropriations Requests are developed in the first year, the Legislature approves the General Appropriations Act in the second year and the budget is implemented over the next two years. The figure below provides county officials and staff with a timeline of the major steps in the state budget process for the 2026-27 biennium. Please note that the spending caps listed in the figure reflect the budget bills as filed and will be updated for each version of the budget – both the Senate and House engrossments and the Conference Committee Report.
