Upcoming Legislative Hearings on Texas Kids' Issues

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Several upcoming House and Senate hearings offer a great opportunity for lawmakers, policy experts, families, and others to discuss key children’s policy issues facing the next Legislature. Texans Care for Children will use these as an opportunity to advocate for policies that improve children’s lives and the future of our state.

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s on tap:

March 22 – The House Select Committee on Mental Health will address children’s mental health.

Here’s background information on supporting children’s mental health, supporting mental health in schools, the importance of addressing students’ toxic stress, and community-based services. Hearing details are available here. Note there will only be invited testimony.

March 29 – The Senate Education Committee will address two topics: 1) post-secondary readiness and 2) teacher retention and preparation.

Here’s background on training teachers to address student mental health. Hearing details are available here.

March 31 – The Joint Committee on Health and Human Services Transition will address HHSC transformation and the consolidation of child abuse prevention services.

Here’s HHSC’s plan and background on how we got here. Hearing details are available here.

April 20 – The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will address foster care.

Here’s background information on CPS caseloads, health challenges in foster care, a judge’s ruling against the Texas foster care system, and progress made during the last session. Hearing details are available here.

May 18 - The Joint Committee on Health and Human Services Transition will address HHSC transformation and consolidation again.

Here’s HHSC’s plan and background on how we got here. Hearing details are available here. Note there will only be invited testimony.

September 15 – The Senate Finance Committee will address reimbursement rate cuts for children’s therapies ("Rider 50”) and other issues.

Here’s background on the cuts and what they mean for Early Childhood Intervention. Hearing details are available here.

In addition to these hearings, we are also keeping an eye out for a House Public Health Committee hearing on birth outcomes, a House JJFI Committee hearing on youth dually-involved with CPS and the juvenile justice system, and more.

If you’d like to see our testimony and other information related to these hearings, be sure to visit our website, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up for our emails. You can sign up here for alerts from the Legislature regarding future hearing announcements.

We look forward to seeing you at the Capitol!