Part of the fight will deal with whether to use less funds on property tax cuts and more on public schools, infrastructure and other needs. Democrats have their own ideas about what to do with the extra funds, including a $15,000 pay raise for Texas teachers, which would cost $12 billion over the next two years.

“With an unprecedented $33 billion budget surplus, we have at least 33 billion opportunities to improve our schools,” said state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, of San Antonio, head of the Texas House Democratic Caucus.

Eoin Treacy's view

I received an email from my bank this morning telling me my mortgage payment is falling $543 a month beginning in April because my property taxes are dropping. They also withheld too much for last year’s property taxes. As a result, I will also be getting a refund equivalent to 1.5 months of mortgage payments. Putting more money in the hands of consumers is going to boost inflation even more. It makes the Fed’s job even harder.