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 Office Hours at the Capitol
Beginning on Wednesday, March 12, TCDD will offer in-person office hours at the Capitol. The office hours will take place from 1-3 p.m. Central time every other Wednesday throughout the legislative session. 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 March 12 and March 26. 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.
Texas Autism Advocacy Day
Our friends at the Autism Society of Texas will host Texas Autism Advocacy Day at the Capitol on Monday, March 31. This is an opportunity to hear from guest speakers on legislative issues and learn to advocate for yourself and the autism community. You’ll also have a chance to put those lessons into action in afternoon meetings with legislative offices.
No advocacy experience is required to participate in the event. During legislative visits, if you are not comfortable communicating with lawmakers or their staff, the Autism Society of Texas will assign you to a group with an appointed spokesperson.
You can register online to attend the event. An individual registration fee of $15 includes a t-shirt and lunch. Some scholarships are available for those requiring financial assistance. If you have questions, please email Adriana Crostley or call 512-479-4199, Ext. 7.
Five Hearings To Watch
The following section includes a sample of legislative 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 Appropriations Subcommittee on Article III (Education) held a hearing (PDF) on Monday, Feb. 24. The subcommittee discussed House budget recommendations for a variety of agencies, including:
- Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Texas School for the Deaf
- Texas Education Agency
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Article II (Health and Human Services) held a hearing (PDF) on Tuesday morning, Feb. 25. The subcommittee heard invited testimony only and discussed House budget recommendations for a variety of agencies, including:
- Health and Human Services Commission
- Texas Civil Commitment Office
- Department of State Health Services
- Department of Family and Protective Services
The House Committee on Public Education held a hearing (PDF) on Tuesday morning, Feb. 25. The committee heard invited testimony only from state agencies concerning the state of public education as well as the Tri Agency Workforce Initiative, a collaboration between the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Article II (Health and Human Services) will hold a hearing (PDF) on Wednesday morning, Feb. 26. The subcommittee will hear public testimony on House budget recommendations for a variety of agencies including:
- Health and Human Services Commission
- Texas Civil Commitment Office
- Department of State Health Services
- Department of Family and Protective Services
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Article III (Education) will hold a hearing (PDF) on Wednesday morning, Feb. 26. The subcommittee will hear invited and public testimony on House budget recommendations for a variety of the state’s public institutions of higher education.
Bill Filing Continues
Now 43 days into the legislative session, lawmakers have filed nearly 5,000 bills to consider in the coming months. Recently filed proposals related to disability issues include:
- House Bill (HB) 2994 by Rep. Ryan Guillen, relating to a report by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on Medicaid eligibility determinations.
- HB 3048 by Rep. Alma Allen, relating to the revision of the essential knowledge and skills of the public-school social studies curricula to include instruction relating to the history of people with disabilities.
- HB 3096 by Rep. Charles Cunningham, relating to designating March 17 as Profound Autism Awareness Day.
- HB 3162 by Rep. Jeff Leach, relating to the use of an accessible absentee mail system by certain voters.
- HB 3170 by Rep. Briscoe Cain, relating to transparency in special education legal proceedings involving a school district and a limit on legal fees that a school district may spend in special education legal proceedings.
- HB 3172 by Rep. Gary Gates, relating to the municipal regulation of multifamily and mixed-use development on land owned or leased by religious organizations.
- HB 3238 by Rep. Chris Turner, relating to an optional health condition or disability designation on a driver’s license or personal identification certificate.
- Senate Bill (SB) 1447 by Sen. José Menéndez, relating to standards adopted by the Texas Education Agency regarding the use of electronic devices and software applications by public schools.
- SB 1459 by Sen. Donna Campbell, relating to public-school policies regarding student possession of personal communication devices and internet safety.
- SB 1526 by Sen. Royce West, relating to reimbursing certain Texas Department of Family and Protective Services employees for certain legal expenses.
- SB 1584 by Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, relating to early voting by mail by any qualified voter and repealing certain criminal offenses concerning the solicitation and distribution of an application to vote by mail.
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.
