HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Harris County officials are revisiting their guaranteed basic income initiative after it faced a setback from the Texas Supreme Court.
The original Uplift Harris program aimed to provide $500 checks to low-income families for financial support. However, critics, including the state’s Attorney General, argued that the program violated the state constitution’s prohibition on giving public funds directly to individuals.
The newly proposed plan, introduced on Thursday, includes stricter guidelines on how the funds can be used. According to County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the funds will be restricted to essential items only.
“This is our best effort; we’re giving it one more try. We want to honor our commitment to these families,” Hidalgo stated.
Following the Supreme Court’s halt of Uplift Harris, county leaders, including Hidalgo, are pushing forward with a revised plan they assert is compliant with legal requirements.
Under the new plan, recipients will receive a preloaded card that can only be used for specific needs such as medicine and groceries, Hidalgo explained.
Attorney General Ken Paxton criticized the original Uplift Harris program as a “handout” and a “welfare scheme.” Despite this, Harris County had defended the program as a vital measure to improve the economic stability of thousands of families.
Although the state Supreme Court has indefinitely paused Uplift Harris, Hidalgo maintains that their new plan adheres to legal standards. Nonetheless, the revised initiative still faces legal challenges and criticism for allocating taxpayer money that some believe could be better spent on other priorities.
