Texas Legislative News: March 11, 2025

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.

Texas Legislative Halftime Update

The Texas Legislature is currently meeting for a 140-day regular session, which happens every two years. During the session, lawmakers will consider thousands of bills covering various issues. In less than two weeks, the session will reach its halfway point.  

Please join the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) on Monday, March 24, for an informational session titled “The Texas Legislative Halftime Update.” The event will feature TCDD staff and will be moderated by TCDD Public Policy Director Scott Daigle. 

At the update, TCDD staff will: 

• provide an overview of disability-related bills lawmakers are considering during the legislative session; 
• highlight the top legislative priorities for the Texas disability community; 
• suggest opportunities and resources on how to get involved in advocating on those disability priorities; and 
• answer questions about the legislative session. 

The event will be held via Zoom. Participants must register ahead of time to attend. 

Registration Details 
Date: Monday, March 24 
Time: 1-2 p.m. Central time (CT)
Register to attend

World Down Syndrome Day at the Capitol

The Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas will host an advocacy day at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 19, in honor of World Down Syndrome Day. Individuals with Down syndrome, family, and friends are encouraged to attend. The event, which will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. CT, will include opportunities to:

• meet with your local representatives to share concerns and requests about current legislation;
• hear official proclamations recognizing World Down Syndrome Day from both the Texas House of Representatives and Senate; and
• gather with passionate individuals from across the state who share a commitment to advocacy and inclusion. 

You can find more details or register for the event here.

Registration Open for TCDD Office Hours at the Capitol

TCDD is offering in-person office hours at the Capitol. The office hours will take place from 1-3 p.m. CT 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 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 a meeting for March 26. When scheduling a meeting, please share your availability for the times and dates listed on the sign-up sheet. We’ll follow up to confirm your meeting 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. Visit the Capitol website for a full list of upcoming hearings.

The House Committee on Public Health held a hearing (PDF) on Monday morning, March 10. The committee heard testimony on a variety of bills, including the following:

• House Joint Resolution (HJR) 3 by Rep. Tom Craddick, proposing a constitutional amendment to establish the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas; establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on the prevention and treatment of dementia and related disorders in this state; and transferring $3 billion from state general revenue to that fund.

The Senate Committee on Education K-16 held a hearing (PDF) on Tuesday morning, March 11. The committee heard testimony on a variety of bills, including:

• Senate Bill (SB) 57 by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, relating to provisions and plans by public schools to ensure the safety of individuals with disabilities or impairments during a mandatory school drill or a disaster or emergency situation. The legislation was recently featured as a TCDD Bill of the Week.
• SB 568 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, relating to special education in public schools, including funding for special education under the Foundation School Program.
• 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.
• Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 5 by Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, directing the Texas School for the Deaf to name its middle school gymnasium the Robert Rives Gymnasium.

The House Committee on Public Education held a hearing (PDF) on Tuesday morning, March 11. The committee heard testimony on the following bill:

• House Bill (HB) 3 by Rep. Brad Buckley, relating to the establishment of an education savings account program.

The House Committee on Higher Education held a hearing (PDF) on Tuesday morning, March 11. The committee heard invited testimony on a variety of issues, including:

• The Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative
• The Healthcare Workforce Shortage

The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will hold a hearing (PDF) on Wednesday morning, March 12. The committee will hear testimony on a variety of bills, including:

• SB 53 by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, relating to certain notice and filing requirements in court proceedings involving people with mental illness.
• SB 1330 by Sen. Kelly Hancock, relating to billing and reimbursement for certain medical equipment, devices, and supplies provided to Medicare enrollees.

Bill Filing Continues

Now 57 days into the legislative session, over 6,600 bills have been filed for lawmakers to consider in the coming months. Recently filed proposals related to disability issues include:

• HB 3834 by Rep. Joe Moody, relating to the provision of services by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to offenders with developmental disabilities (DD).
• HB 3891 by Rep. Liz Campos, relating to prohibiting the use of certain criteria to determine certain individuals’ eligibility for benefits under a Medicaid waiver program.
• HB 4160 by Rep. Ron Reynolds, relating to the release of certain video surveillance of special education settings.
• HB 4171 by Rep. Mark Dorazio, relating to accommodating a voter with a disability.
• SB 1966 by Sen. César Blanco, relating to the provision of information regarding centers for independent living for certain people with DD.
• SB 2001 by Sen. Phil King, relating to the registration of vehicles, the issuance of accessible parking placards, and certain benefits associated with that registration or issuance for certain peace officers with disabilities.
• SB 2071 by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, relating to the regulation of child-care facilities and registered family homes, including the provision of services to children with disabilities.
• SB 2087 by Sen. Borris Miles, relating to the content of legislative immunization reports issued every two years by the Department of State Health Services.

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.