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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.
House Advances Disability-Related Bills
Last week, the Texas House passed a variety of notable bills, including the following legislation that now heads to the Senate for consideration:
- House Bill (HB) 1136 by Rep. Erin Gámez, relating to a study by the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities on parking for people with disabilities.
- HB 2542 by Rep. Stan Kitzman, creating a work group to make recommendations on services needed by people with developmental disabilities (DD).
The House also passed three bills previously featured as TCDD Bills of the Week. The first two now head to the Senate. The third, having passed both chambers, goes to the governor’s desk for signature into law:
- HB 2081 by Rep. John Bucy III, creating the Building Better Futures Program to support educational and occupational skills training and support for students with DD at public and private institutions of higher education.
- HB 2807 by Rep. Toni Rose, relating to the statewide intellectual and developmental disability coordinating council.
- Senate Bill (SB) 769 by Sen. José Menéndez, relating to a report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on the enrollment and success of students with disabilities in higher education.
Here are some bills of note on the House floor this week:
- HB 2310 by Rep. Claudia Ordaz, relating to the development of a strategic plan to improve and expand early learning and educational opportunities for young children with disabilities. This bill was recently featured as a TCDD Bill of the Week.
- HB 2967 by Rep. Harold Dutton, relating to vision screenings for students in public or private schools, including reporting on vision-screening information for public school students and the creation of a vision-care allotment under the Foundation School Program.
- HB 3947 by Rep. Yvonne Davis, relating to transportation planning by metropolitan planning organizations.
For complete lists of bills considered each day, go to the House and Senate calendars on the Capitol website.
TCDD Testimony: Autism Training for Law Enforcement
Last week, TCDD Public Policy Analyst Marisa Iannaccone provided written remarks on HB 2929 to the House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans’ Affairs. The bill would require peace officers to take training on interacting with people with autism.
Iannaccone shared information on the disproportionate rate of interactions that people with autism have with law enforcement. She noted how these incidents too often end in tragedy due to neurodivergent behaviors being misinterpreted as threats. She also detailed recent initiatives, such as the Driving with Disability program, that reflect Texas’ recognition of the need for disability-informed law enforcement practices.
Iannaccone also highlighted a training course for peace officers on intellectual and developmental disabilities (PDF, 16 pages, 316 KB). The course, which was recently developed by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, could be used to either inform or work together with any training HB 2929 might require, Iannaccone wrote.
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 Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence held a hearing (PDF) on Tuesday morning, May 6. The committee heard testimony on a variety of bills, including:
- SB 1019 by Sen. Joan Huffman, relating to the admissibility of certain hearsay statements in legal proceedings regarding sexual offenses or assaults committed against either children or people with disabilities.
The House Committee on Public Education held a hearing (PDF) on Tuesday morning, May 6. The committee heard testimony on a variety of bills, including:
- HB 3312 by Rep. Valoree Swanson, relating to the preservation and release of video surveillance recordings of special education settings.
- SB 57 by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, relating to plans by public schools to ensure the safety of students with disabilities during mandatory school drills, disasters, or emergency situations. This bill was previously featured as a TCDD Bill of the Week.
- SB 207 by Sen. Angela Paxton, relating to excused absences from public schools for students to attend mental health care appointments.
The House Committee on Insurance will hold a hearing (PDF) on Wednesday morning, May 7. The committee will hear testimony on a variety of bills, including:
- HB 813 by Rep. Philip Cortez, relating to health benefit coverage for autism-related care.
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will hold a hearing (PDF) on Wednesday morning, May 7. The committee will hear testimony on a variety of bills, including:
- HB 2358 by Rep. Candy Noble, relating to training required or offered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for long-term care facility surveyors, personnel, and providers as well as for providers in intermediate-care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
The Senate Committee on Administration will hold a hearing (PDF) on Wednesday morning, May 7. The committee will hear testimony on a variety of bills, including:
- HB 3096 by Rep. Charles Cunningham, designating March 17 as Profound Autism Awareness Day.
- House Concurrent Resolution 12 by Rep. Terri Leo Wilson, designating September as Deaf Awareness Month for a 10-year period ending in 2035.
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.
