In Re the State of Texas

The State of Texas requested that a Harris County guaranteed income program that would use federal funds to disburse $500 cash payments to 2,000 low-income county residents be paused as a lawsuit over the program proceeds in the trial court. The state of Texas sued to stop the payments, contending the payments violate the state constitution’s bar on “gratuitous payments to individuals.” The Texas Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction.