Texas voters have overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment creating an $850 million endowment to support the Texas State Technical College (TSTC) System—the state’s primary higher education network for workforce training.
The measure, known as Proposition 1, authorizes the creation of two new permanent funds—the Permanent Technical Institution Infrastructure Fund and the Available Workforce Education Fund—to stabilize and expand long-term funding for TSTC campuses statewide. The amendment’s ballot language specified that the funds would “support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System,” including land acquisition, building construction, repairs, library resources, and capital equipment.
The approval marks a historic investment in workforce education for Texas. Unlike community colleges, TSTC lacks taxing authority to issue bonds, leaving it dependent on inconsistent legislative appropriations. Years of underfunding have halted critical upgrades and expansion across its 11 campuses.
“This is a transformative moment for technical education in Texas,” said Joe Arnold, deputy vice chancellor of governmental relations at TSTC. “We have to keep up with the demand for trained technicians to keep our economy going. If the economy goes south, then the citizens of Texas are the ones that are ultimately going to suffer.”
According to The Texas Tribune, the endowment—drawn from the state’s general revenue fund—will be managed by the comptroller’s office. A portion of the earnings will flow into the Workforce Education Fund, giving TSTC an estimated $40 million annually for infrastructure and equipment improvements.
The push for the amendment followed Gov. Greg Abbott’s legislative priority earlier this year to strengthen workforce training amid a statewide shortage of skilled labor. Texas employers have reported a steep decline in workers for fields such as plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work. State projections estimate a need for 7,000 plumbers, 4,500 HVAC technicians, and 10,000 electricians by 2030.
TSTC’s enrollment has surged in response to workforce demand. The institution told the Tribune that it was forced to turn away 500 students this fall because its facilities had reached capacity.
Proponents say the new endowment will allow the college to modernize its training programs and expand access for students seeking high-demand technical credentials. Critics, however, have raised concerns that the creation of a large endowment outside normal appropriations could reduce government oversight and transparency.
Proposition 1 was among 17 constitutional amendments on the ballot this year, all of which appeared headed for approval according to preliminary results from the Texas Secretary of State.
For TSTC, the funding represents not only financial stability but also a commitment by Texans to invest in the workforce driving the state’s future economy.
