Table of Contents
Welcome to the latest edition of Texas Legislative News for the 89th Texas Legislature. In this regular feature, we provide information on disability-related issues and bills under consideration at the State Capitol. We also explain how lawmakers conduct business, and we share details on upcoming TCDD events.
TCDD Public Testimony
Last week, TCDD staff provided public testimony on three bills at the Capitol, covering topics such as an IDD coordinating council, soft-skills training, and ballot applications in long-term care facilities.
IDD Coordinating Council
TCDD Senior Public Policy Analyst Lauren Gerken provided verbal testimony on March 25 to the House Human Services Committee on House Bill (HB) 2807, which would establish a statewide intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) coordinating council. She discussed how this new council would bring multiple agencies together to develop strategies on optimizing the complex system of Medicaid waivers, education, and more. The council would also ensure implementation and proper oversight of a five-year statewide IDD strategic plan. Gerken detailed how this new council would differ from other state disability entities (PDF) such as TCDD and the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities. HB 2807 was featured as a TCDD Bill of the Week.
Soft-Skills Training
Gerken also gave verbal testimony on March 25 to the House Subcommittee on Workforce on HB 1147, which would require the Texas Workforce Commission to establish a workplace soft-skills training pilot program. Gerken said that, while the bill is not specifically related to disability, it could allow people with disabilities to gain a certificate for soft skills that they were unable to qualify for previously. The bill would also give people with disabilities an opportunity to engage in the workforce in a more meaningful way to increase their employability.
Ballot Applications in Long-Term Care Facilities
TCDD Senior Public Policy Analyst Linda Logan submitted written testimony on March 26 to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Senate Bill (SB) 760, which relates to the mail-in ballot applications of people living in assisted-living facilities, nursing facilities, or intermediate care facilities. According to Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, the bill’s author, SB 760 seeks to better ensure ballot integrity. The bill would involve verifying that a person in one of these facilities had indeed requested a ballot, had done so without illicit manipulation, and could cast a ballot with choices that reflect the person’s intent.
Logan shared TCDD’s concern that SB 760, as currently drafted, could have the unintended consequence of denying facility residents their rightful opportunity to vote. She pointed to the bill’s multistep process that would substantially increase the number of people involved in getting a ballot to its requestor. Logan encouraged members of the committee to take into account the individual rights and liberties of facility residents. She asked committee members to ensure that the bill would not create formidable barriers to ballot access.
Resources to Contact Lawmakers and Give Testimony
The House Research Organization recently published its list of legislative staff (PDF, 28 pages, 3.9 MB) for the 89th Legislature. The document provides the names and titles of staff in lawmaker and committee offices, both for the House and the Senate. It is a helpful tool for making initial contact with staff, or for following up after you’ve spoken with an office.
If you’d like to give remarks at an upcoming hearing but aren’t sure how to craft your comments, we’ve created a My Testimony Blueprint (PDF) that can be used as a guide. See Legislative Advocacy Resources for more tools and information.
TCDD Listens
What do Texans with developmental disabilities (DD) need to achieve their future goals for independence, productivity, and community living? We’re developing our next strategic plan, which will guide TCDD’s statewide activities from 2027-2031. Your ideas and experiences are vital to this process.
We want input from:
- people with DD (self-advocates);
- family members of people with DD;
- disability service providers;
- professionals at nonprofits and government agencies;
- educators and education administrators;
- employers; and
- anyone else interested in disability issues.
There are many ways to participate, including online discussions, a survey, email communications, and more. Learn more about how to participate.
Sign Up for TCDD Office Hours at the Capitol
On Wednesday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 23, TCDD will offer in-person office hours at the Capitol. The office hours will take place from 1-3 p.m. Central time. During these 30-minute meetings, TCDD staff can help you with your advocacy goals for the session. This assistance may include:
- answering questions about the legislative process;
- accompanying you to meetings with your lawmakers or their staff;
- helping you prepare legislative testimony; and
- helping you prepare a personal “elevator speech.”
You can use our online sign-up sheet to schedule meetings for the April dates. When scheduling a meeting, please indicate your availability for the times and dates listed on the sign-up sheet. We’ll follow up with you to confirm your meeting’s time and location. Meetings should not be considered scheduled until you have received confirmation from TCDD staff. Availability may be limited depending on demand.
Five Hearings to Watch
The following section includes a sample of the hearings we’re monitoring this week. During these hearings, legislative committees may consider important disability-related issues. You can find live and archived broadcasts of committee hearings on the House and Senate websites. A full list of upcoming hearings can be found on the Capitol website.
The House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing (PDF) on Monday morning, March 31. The committee discussed a variety of bills, including:
- HB 511 by Rep. Diego Bernal, relating to property tax exemptions for unpaid caregivers of people on waiting lists to receive long-term services and supports through Medicaid.
- House Joint Resolution (HJR) 67 by Rep. Diego Bernal, proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing property tax exemptions for unpaid caregivers of people on waiting lists to receive long-term services and supports through Medicaid.
- HB 972 by Rep. Candy Noble, relating to property tax exemptions on the primary residences of adults with IDD who are related to the property owner or trustee.
- HJR 72 by Rep. Candy Noble, proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing property tax exemptions on the primary residences of adults with IDD who are related to the property owner or trustee.
The House Committee on Human Services held a hearing (PDF) on Tuesday morning, April 1. The committee heard testimony on a variety of bills, including:
- HB 1199 by Rep. Christian Manuel, relating to emergency generators or other power sources for nursing facilities and assisted-living facilities.
- HB 2542 by Rep. Stan Kitzman, relating to the establishment of a work group to study and make recommendations on certain services needed by people with IDD.
- HB 3096 by Rep. Charles Cunningham, relating to designating March 17 as Profound Autism Awareness Day.
- HB 3595 by Rep. Jeff Barry, relating to an emergency preparedness and contingency operations plan, including temperature regulation, for residents of assisted-living facilities during emergencies.
The House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs held a hearing (PDF) on Tuesday morning, April 1. The committee heard testimony on a variety of bills, including:
- HB 1063 by Rep. Salman Bhojani, relating to the creation of tenant legal services offices by local governments to assist low-income residential tenants in eviction cases and in cases involving discrimination based on the tenants’ disabilities. This was featured as a TCDD Bill of the Week.
The Senate Committee on Education K-16 held a hearing (PDF) on Tuesday morning, April 1. The committee heard testimony on a variety of bills, including:
- SB 1459 by Sen. Donna Campbell, relating to public school policies regarding student possession of personal communication devices and internet safety.
- SB 2365 by Sen. Brandon Creighton, relating to the use of personal wireless communication devices by students during instructional time.
The Senate Committee on Education K-16 will hold a hearing (PDF) on Thursday morning, April 3. The committee will hear testimony on a variety of bills, including:
- SB 769 by Sen. José Menéndez, relating to a report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding enrollment and success in higher education for students with disabilities.
Stay Informed
Throughout the 89th Texas legislative session, you can stay up to date on how lawmakers address disability issues by following us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You can also check out our Policy section to learn more about our legislative engagement and find resources to support your own advocacy.
