Harris County Approves Revised Uplift Harris Program

Harris County is set to introduce a revised version of its guaranteed income initiative, Uplift Harris 2.0, following a legal ruling that deemed the original program unconstitutional. The Texas Supreme Court's decision, which sided with Attorney General Ken Paxton, halted the county's plan to provide monthly payments to low-income families. The new program will offer $500 monthly payments via preloaded debit cards to nearly 2,000 families previously selected in the pilot program. County Judge Lina Hidalgo acknowledged that Uplift Harris 2.0 may not fully align with the original program's intent but expressed optimism about its potential benefits for the families involved. She emphasized the importance of moving forward despite the challenges, stating, “I don’t want the families to have sort of false hope.” The county is committed to monitoring the program's impact and adapting as necessary. The initial Uplift Harris program was designed to assist families living below 200% of the federal poverty line, funded by $20.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. The application process attracted over 82,000 applicants before closing in February. Following discussions among county commissioners, the steering committee approved the direct debit card option on August 7, with Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey casting the sole dissenting vote. As Harris County implements this new program, it aims to provide essential financial support to families in need while navigating the legal and logistical challenges that have arisen.