Require two-thirds vote to override constitutional spending limit

Require a two-thirds vote to override the constitutional spending limit.

The Texas Constitution also authorizes the Legislature to override the spending limitation by a simple majority vote. Although this provision has never been exercised, it effectively renders the existing spending limit a meaningless “safeguard” against higher spending. By comparison, spending revenue from the Economic Stabilization Fund requires either a two-thirds or a three-fifths vote in the Legislature. An essential component of enacting a stricter constitutional spending limit will be to impose a two-thirds vote requirement to override the limit. A precedent is set by the constitutional requirements for appropriating funds from the Economic Stabilization Fund; the constitution establishes a three-fifths requirement (Art. III, 49-g, (k)) and a two-thirds requirement (Art. III, 49-g, (m)).