Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Harris County over the Uplift Harris program, which provides nearly 2,000 residents with $500 per month for 18 months. Paxton believes the program is unconstitutional and violates the state’s constitution, which prohibits the grant of public money or value to individuals. The program was passed by Harris County Commissioners in 2023 with a 4-1 vote and funded with $20.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act intended for COVID-19 relief initiatives.
The program started in January 2024 and received over 59,000 applications, with only 1,924 applicants selected through a lottery process. The recipients are set to receive the funds with no strings attached, which Paxton argues is not a lawful use of taxpayer money and does not advance the public interest. He believes the selection of recipients is arbitrary and violates the state’s constitution, which guarantees equal rights and prohibits exclusive public emoluments.
Harris County officials have yet to comment on the lawsuit by Paxton. However, it is worth noting that Austin, Texas, recently launched a similar guaranteed income program to address housing insecurity. The city provided $1,000 monthly checks to 85 households at risk of losing their homes. Austin became the first major city in Texas to use tax dollars to fund such programs in 2022, with the goal of helping participants find a way out of poverty and achieve greater economic mobility and housing stability.
The Uplift Harris program excludes undocumented immigrants due to federal funding requirements, as it is funded with COVID-19 relief funds. However, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo reportedly wants an alternative cash assistance program to cover those who are ineligible for Uplift Harris. Additionally, Paxton’s lawsuit against the program highlights concerns about the distribution of public funds for political gain without accountability or a general public benefit, leading to the Attorney General’s assertion that the program is unconstitutional and must be stopped.
Paxton has pointed out that the state’s constitution prohibits the granting of public money or value to individuals and emphasizes that taxpayer money must be spent lawfully to advance the public interest. By suing to stop Harris County officials from allegedly abusing public funds for political gain, Paxton is seeking to ensure that public money is used accountably and with a reasonable expectation of general benefit. Despite the success and implementation of similar programs in other parts of Texas, the legality and constitutionality of the Uplift Harris program remain contentious and subject to legal scrutiny.
