Budget & Planning

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Budget & Planning

The consolidated HHS budget currently is around $80 billion for the biennium. HHS considers transparency a pillar of operations and offers the following information to show how the agency is ensuring tax payer money is spent effectively.

Note: This page includes documents from the agencies that were combined to create Texas Health and Human Services on Sept. 1, 2016. They are provided for record purposes.

Monthly Financial Reports

The Monthly Financial Reports complies with Rider 16(e) of the Appropriations Act. Each agency must submit a monthly report on expenditures and encumbrances of the agency by strategy.

Consolidated Budget Request

The HHS Consolidated Budget Request summarizes the requests for legislative appropriations for the Texas health and human services agencies. The request highlights critical funding needs across the agencies and categorizes the requests to help decision makers and the public analyze the service and operational needs throughout the state's health and human services system. Major federal funding issues are identified and provider rate methodologies are included for legislative consideration.

Operating Budgets

The Operating Budget gives a point-in-time snapshot of past years and a projection of a future year. It is produced every odd numbered year and is submitted to the Governor's Office of Budget, Planning and Policy as well as the Legislative Budget Board.

Texas Department of State Health Services

Texas Health and Human Services Commission

Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR)

The Texas budget process begins during the year before each regular session of the state's Legislature, which are held in odd-numbered years.

Each state agency prepares a detailed legislative appropriations request under the guidelines of the state's Legislative Budget Board. The LAR itemizes the funding each agency feels it needs to pursue its various tasks, and include performance measures designed to ensure the money is spent efficiently and effectively.

The Health and Human Services Commission has submitted its LAR for the 2020-21 biennium. You can download and read the 2020-21 LAR here (PDF). More information about the agency's funding resources can be found in the LAR Exceptional Item Summary (PDF).

HHS is following hundreds of bills in the 86th Legislature, offering our guidance and expertise to help lawmakers as they shape state policy. Find out more information about 11 initiatives that have come from specific recommendations HHS has made.

Texas Department of State Health Services

Texas Health and Human Services Commission

Strategic Plans

Every two years, the Texas Health and Human Services system updates its Strategic Plans, which describe its work to address multifaceted and evolving factors affecting health and human services. Each of the system's divisions contributes to the development of the Strategic Plans.

The Plans define the system's mission, goals and the means to measure progress in addressing specific issues over a five-year period.

For more information, see Instructions for Preparing and Submitting Agency Strategic Plans, Fiscal Years 2019 to 2023 (PDF), published by the Legislative Budget Board and the Office of the Governor.

Vote on Cost Savings

Some of the best ideas for improving processes or saving money come from within. That is why Texas Health and Human Services employees are encouraged to submit their ideas. The public is invited to vote on any ideas they like as posted on our website. All suggestions are reviewed to understand feasibility with a goal of testing the ideas with best savings potential.