Texas poised to ask voters to approve $3 billion to study dementia
Both chambers voted earlier this session to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, to study dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and other brain conditions. Modeled after Texas' cancer institute, the new initiative was a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and received bipartisan support from the majority of lawmakers.
But it's not up to them whether taxpayer dollars can be used to fund this project. That decision will lie with the voters, who, after SJR 3 is finally approved by the House, will be asked at the next election whether they want to allocate $3 billion of general revenue to this work.
'I don't know [any one] in this House who doesn't have a family member or a friend or a neighbor … impacted by dementia or Alzheimer's,' said Rep. Senfronia Thompson, a Houston Democrat. 'This Constitutional Amendment gives us the funding to do the research so that we can give those persons who are impacted with these dreadful diseases a better quality of life.'
SJR 3 passed 123-21, with one member abstaining. Despite the popularity of the bill, the funding measure's fate was briefly in question, as Democrats attempted to hold constitutional amendments hostage over the creation of a school voucher program.
Both chambers have signed off on a $1 billion private school voucher program, finally breaking through years of resistance from Democrats and rural Republicans. In a last ditch effort, Democrats asked that the proposal be put to voters and vowed to vote against all constitutional amendments until their request was granted. Since constitutional amendments need a two-thirds majority to pass, it's one of the few times Republicans need Democrats allied to their cause.
The dementia funding measure was one of the constitutional amendments up for a vote during this so-called blockade. The bill was punted a few days, but when it came back up for a vote Monday, enough Democrats voted with Republicans to approve the proposal.
After lengthy back and forth over the enabling legislation last week, the funding vote Monday was quick and to the point. Thompson and Rep. Tom Craddick, a Midland Republican, who both have pushed for a bill like this for several years, implored their colleagues to vote for the measure.
'We're one of the leading states with Alzheimer's in the country,' Craddick said. 'This could be the way we can solve it … This isn't a party vote. This is a vote for the people in the state of Texas.'
Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Get tickets before May 1 and save big! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
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