Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has secured a stay from the Supreme Court of Texas (SCOTX) halting Harris County's "guaranteed income" program, known as "Uplift Harris," which he claims violates the Texas Constitution.
In April 2024, Attorney General Paxton initiated legal action against Harris County over the welfare scheme. According to Paxton, the Texas Constitution prohibits any county, city, town, or other political subdivision of the state from granting public money or items of value to individuals. The Uplift Harris program aimed to provide 1,928 residents with $500 monthly payments for 18 months without any conditions. Eligibility for these payments extended to various classifications of noncitizens.
After a lower court denied Texas’s request for emergency relief, the Office of the Attorney General filed an emergency motion with SCOTX. Today, SCOTX granted Texas's request and ordered that “all payments under the Uplift Harris program are prohibited pending further order of this Court.”
"Harris County’s guaranteed income scheme is a clear and flagrant violation of the Texas Constitution," said Attorney General Paxton. "SCOTX has stepped in and put a stop to this abuse of power and unlawful use of taxpayer money while the case continues."
To read the order, click here.