Which entity primarily has the power of budget approval in Texas?

The entity that primarily has the power of budget approval in Texas is the Legislative Budget Board (LBB). This board plays a crucial role in the budgetary process, overseeing the preparation and presentation of the state budget. The LBB is responsible for developing the state's budget recommendations, which are then submitted to the Texas Legislature.

The LBB's structure supports its function; it is composed of members from both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate, along with the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House, which ensures a bipartisan approach to the budget process. This board gathers information, analyzes budget requests, and helps to guide the legislature in its budget decisions.

While the Texas Legislature (comprising the House and Senate) ultimately votes on the budget, the LBB's integral role in shaping the proposal makes it the primary authority in budget approval in Texas. Moreover, the Governor does have influence over the budget through the line-item veto and can propose a budget, but the primary authority rests with the Legislative Budget Board and the legislative process.