Instead of the requested $175 million for a health tech facility in Sugar Land and $165 million for a new academic building in Katy, the final budget allocates only $20 million to support UH Katy’s program expansion.
The backstory
The Texas House initially proposed $15 million for a perioperative nursing center in Sugar Land and $20 million for UH Katy. The Texas Senate’s version only offered $5 million for Katy and no allocation for Sugar Land.
After a conference committee, composed of members of both chambers, filed their report May 28, the final bill granted $20 million over two years solely to the UH Katy instructional site.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a May 31 news release that the overall state budget grew by just 1.2% since the last biennium, which is below the combined rate of inflation and population growth.
Patrick said the record allocation of $8.5 billion demonstrates his commitment to public education, while “returning even more money to taxpayers to fight back against local government property taxes.”
What it means
UH Katy:
UH officials said in an email that the funds will be used to expand undergraduate and graduate programs in areas like business, engineering, nursing and sciences, reflecting the industry needs of West Houston.
The funding will help expand graduate programs from the Bauer College of Business and the Cullen College of Engineering at the Katy campus, said Jay Neal, associate vice president for academic affairs and chief operating officer for UH at Katy and Sugar Land, at the April 22 Katy Economic Development Council meeting.
“Tuition dollars will sustain [the programs], but we need help getting started on this,” he said. “I can't bring both programs out without financial support.”
The college used its current operating budget to launch 40 new courses this fall—projected to raise enrollment by 130%, Neal said.
UH Sugar Land:
UH officials said although the perioperative nursing center was not funded this session, the Andy and Barbara Gessner College of Nursing will continue to offer state-of-the-art nursing simulation centers at both the Sugar Land and Katy campuses.
Additionally, the college will expand nursing course offerings in Katy without impacting the programs currently offered in Sugar Land, a representative confirmed.
Looking ahead
SB 1 reached Comptroller Glenn Hegar on June 2 and must be endorsed, certifying that the amount is within the estimated available funds, before it arrives at Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk, according to the Texas Legislature Online.
Following Abbott’s signature, the bill becomes law immediately, and the college will have access to the funds by September, according to the bill documents.
Long-term planning continues, with hopes for full state funding in the 2027 session, Neal said.
Even then, Neal estimates construction on new facilities in Katy wouldn’t be completed until 2031 or 2032, while enrollment at the campus is expected to grow from 500 students to 5,000 in two years.
