Bill introduced to provide a $1,500 check per household in Texas

The funds would come from a portion of the money accumulated in the state fund known as the Rainy Day Fund.

State Senator Roland Gutiérrez (D-San Antonio) filed a bill to fulfill Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa’s campaign promise to provide a one-time payment of $1,500 to households across the state.

One of Hinojosa’s economic proposals was to ask the state Legislature to approve a one-time $1,500 rebate for every Texas household.

Under her proposal, the money would come from a portion of the funds accumulated in the state’s Rainy Day Fund.

Who could receive the $1,500?

SB 297 proposes a $1,500 payment per household, regardless of how many people live there. Each household could receive only one payment.

Under the proposed measure, an eligible household would be one whose primary residence is in Texas on January 1, 2027, and that is represented by someone at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor, provided they meet the state’s verification requirements.

Eligibility would not depend on income, homeownership, property tax payments, employment, receipt of public benefits, or filing a federal tax return.

The money would not be a loan and would not have to be repaid, except in cases of fraud or duplicate payments.

According to the bill, payments would begin as soon as possible after the measure takes effect.

To fund the program, SB 297 proposes allocating $17 billion from the Texas Economic Stabilization Fund during the two-year fiscal period ending August 31, 2029.

Have the checks been approved yet?

No. The measure is currently a bill introduced on November 9, 2026.

It still needs to pass through a committee and be debated in the Texas Legislature, which will convene on January 12, 2027.

This article was translated from NBC5/T39 sister station Telemundo 60 in San Antonio.