AUSTIN, Texas — The office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Harris County that challenges the county's guaranteed income program, "Uplift Harris."
Nearly 2,000 eligible households will get $500 monthly for 18 months as part of the program. The funds come from the Federal American Rescue Plan Act, but Paxton said it violates the Texas Constitution.
"The Texas Constitution expressly forbids “any county, city, town or other political corporation or subdivision of the state … to grant public money or thing of value in aid of, or to any individual," Paxton said.
How did Austin's guaranteed income program perform?
A similar pilot program established in 2022 gave 135 Austin families $1,000 monthly for a year without rules on how to spend it.
As part of a study done by The Urban Institute, analysts found that nearly everyone used the money to get ahead on things like rent, child care and groceries.
In February, it was announced that Austin would start the program again in spring. At the time, enough money had already been allocated to fund 85 families. There has been no announcement about a lawsuit targeting Austin.
Meanwhile, Harris County attorney Christian Menefee called the lawsuit, "Nothing more than an attack on local government and an attempt to make headlines."