The center would "accelerate research into dementia, attracting top talent to our state and creating high quality jobs," Sen. Joan Huffman said.

The legislation would require voters to approve the $3 billion start-up cost, and then the fund would be maintained at no more than $300 million annually.

Many school districts have struggled to afford the cost of complying with House Bill 3 from 2023, which requires schools to have an armed officer on each campus.

Fewer than half of Texas public school districts are compliant with new safety guidelines published after the deadly mass shooting in Uvalde.