The Texas House gave preliminary approval to Senate Joint Resolution 3 on Monday, which would allow voters to decide whether to spend $3 billion in state funds on dementia research.
Both chambers had previously voted to establish the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, modeled after the state’s cancer institute. This initiative, a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, aims to study dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other brain conditions.
While the institute has received bipartisan support, funding for the project is contingent upon voter approval. SJR 3, if fully approved by the House, will put the allocation of $3 billion in general revenue for this research on the ballot at the next election.
Rep. Senfronia Thompson emphasized the widespread impact of dementia and Alzheimer’s, highlighting the importance of research funding to improve the quality of life for those affected. The bill passed 123-21.
However, the funding measure’s fate was briefly uncertain due to a Democratic attempt to leverage constitutional amendments for a school voucher program. Both chambers approved a $1 billion private school voucher program, but Democrats sought to put the proposal to voters and threatened to block all constitutional amendments until their demand was met.
This “blockade” led to the postponement of several pieces of legislation, including the dementia funding measure. However, after a clash in which Republicans killed uncontroversial Democrat bills, some Democrats relented, allowing the dementia funding and other constitutional amendments to proceed.
Following extensive discussions about the enabling legislation, the funding vote on Monday was swift. Rep. Thompson and Rep. Tom Craddick, both long-time advocates for the bill, urged their colleagues to support the measure, emphasizing its potential to address Texas’ high rate of Alzheimer’s disease and its nonpartisan nature.