STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

May 16, 2006

(This legislative update is produced by the UH System Office of Governmental Relations and the UH Division of University Advancement as a service to the UH System community, our alumni, and our friends)


$1.9 BILLION TUITION REVENUE BOND BILL PASSES

One day before the end of the 30-day session, the legislature completed their business and adjourned sine die. Working through the weekend, key legislators crafted a tuition revenue bond bill totaling almost $1.9 billion. The bill did not include an appropriation for debt service. During debate in both the House and the Senate, Reps. Geanie Morrison and Jim Pitts said that the intent is to appropriate debt service during the next regular session. The Legislative Budget Board estimates that total annual debt service for the bill will be $167 million.

The following projects were approved for the University of Houston System (along with estimated annual debt service):

  Issue Est. Annual Debt Service
UH – Renovate Science Labs $57,600,000 $5,344,000
UHCL – Arbor Bldg Renovations 10,604,808 984,000
UHD – Shea St. Bldg 31,626,000 2,935,000
UHV – Sugar Land Bldg 22,900,000 2,125,000
UHV – Allied Health 1,800,000 167,000
UHV – Regional Economic Dev. Bldg 6,719,000 634,000

Now that the session is over, attention will return to interim studies. Several committees took advantage of their time in Austin by holding hearings on their charges, but we expect that both the House Higher Education Committee and the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee will hold more hearings throughout the summer.