The Texas Senate has passed a bill aimed at stopping local governments from funding universal basic income programs, specifically taking aim at Harris County’s “Uplift Harris” initiative.
Senate Bill 2010, authored by Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), passed in a 22-9 bipartisan vote on Thursday. The legislation prohibits cities, counties, and other political subdivisions in Texas from using public funds for guaranteed income programs. That includes direct payments through cash, gift cards, or debit cards, even if funded by federal dollars.
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“Harris County’s UBI scheme violates the gift clause of the Texas Constitution,” Bettencourt said in a statement. “Harris County’s original uplift program was a random lottery giveaway of public money with no return to taxpayers, little transparency, and a waste of taxpayers dollars.”
The “Uplift Harris” program, launched in 2023, promised $500 per month for 18 months to 1,928 households selected from more than 82,000 applicants. In early 2024, Bettencourt sought an official opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on the program, which later became the subject of a lawsuit alleging it violated the state’s Constitution.
“This is a massive $20 million dollar plus red flag for taxpayers,” Bettencourt said. “Only one out of every 41 applicants would get a check, while the rest get nothing — and it’s all with taxpayer money. That’s not targeted help, that’s lottery socialism.”
SB 2010 ensures short-term job search and work placement programs remain unaffected while blocking guaranteed income pilot projects.
“Public funds should advance public interests, not be handed out as blank checks in politically motivated pilot projects,” Bettencourt added. “This bill defends taxpayers and reinforces our Constitution’s limits on government giveaways.”
The bill now moves to the Texas House of Representatives, where its companion, House Bill 530 by Rep. Ellen Troxclair, is pending.