Legislative Newsletter: Budget Requests, Federal Activities, Spotlight on Brooke Hohfield

Published: Fri, 03/07/25

Updated: Tue, 03/11/25

Your source for disability policy news during Texas' 89th Legislative Session.

Disability Budget Requests

The Arc of Texas recently testified before the committees of both the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate on issues impacting Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Here are our key budget requests:

Move to Intensity-Based Funding for Special Education

WATCH our testimony (starts at 3:10:50).

On Feb. 24, our Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Sabrina Gonzalez Saucedo, testified before the Texas House Committee on Appropriations - Subcommittee on Article 3, which oversees all state funding for education, including the Texas Education Agency. Sabrina shared the importance of passing legislation that would move Texas to an intensity-based funding model for students with disabilities in public schools, an approach that ensures funding provided to school districts is based on specific needs of students with disabilities and tailored supports are provided for each individual student.

Fully Fund Vocational Rehabilitation Programs at Texas Workforce Commission

WATCH our testimony (starts at 6:07:20).

On Feb. 24, our Deputy Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Michael Clarke, testified before the Texas House Committee on Appropriations - Subcommittee on Articles 6, 7, and 8, which examines the budget for certain state agencies, including the Texas Workforce Commission. Michael urged the legislature's full funding of vocational rehabilitation (VR) services in the state budget for the next two years, saying that this funding is crucial in order for Texas to get the maximum amount of VR funding from the federal government, which, in turn, helps Texans with disabilities secure meaningful employment.

Funding for Medicaid Waivers and Transforming IDD Services
WATCH our testimony (starts at 4:40:57).

On Feb. 26, our Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Sabrina Gonzalez Saucedo, testified before the Texas House Committee on Appropriations - Subcommittee on Article 2, which examines the funding for various state agencies, the largest of which is the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). She emphasized critical budget priorities, including increased funding for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and additional Medicaid waiver slots to reduce the interest list, which currently has more than 175,000 Texans waiting for services. She also discussed the policy priority of The Arc of Texas to work with the legislature and HHSC to transform Texas’ waiver programs over a ten year period, ensuring there are enough Medicaid waiver slots to meet the needs of all Texans with IDD.

Expansion of Outpatient Biopsychosocial (OBI) Program Statewide
WATCH our testimony (starts at 4:47:10).

On Feb. 26, our Deputy Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Michael Clarke, testified before the Texas House Committee on Appropriations - Subcommittee on Article 2 about the need to fully fund the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSC) request to expand its outpatient biopsychosocial (OBI) pilot program to all Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authorities across Texas. The expansion is a recommendation of The Arc of Texas Whole Person Project because OBI has proved to be very effective in addressing the needs of Texans with co-occurring IDD and mental health needs.

Related: Register for our March 19 webinar to hear key findings and proposed solutions from our investigative report, "Out of Options: Addressing Inequities in Care for Texans with IDD and Mental Illness."

Stay up to date on advocacy opportunities and disability rights news: follow @TheArcOfTexas on social media and keep an eye on our emails.

Federal Activities Threatening Texans with Disabilities

The Arc of Texas is monitoring actions at the federal congressional level that could have serious implications for people with disabilities in Texas and across the country. Here are two:

Section 504

The Arc of Texas is monitoring the suit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenging the constitutionality of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which has provided crucial protections for people with disabilities across the country for over 50 years. In the case Texas v. Becerra, the State of Texas filed suit, along with 16 other states, on a potential rule change to Section 504 proposed by the Biden Administration. (Learn more about the case here.) While the lawsuit was filed in response to the particular rule change proposed by the Biden Administration, the lawsuit seeks to have a court find Section 504 to be unconstitutional. Disability rights advocates against the lawsuit are protesting around the state. We rallied with ADAPT Texas, Disability Rights Texas, and other allies at the Texas Capitol on March 4 (see news coverage).

Medicaid

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed its version of a bill to fund the federal government. In its current form, the bill would cut the federal Medicaid program by $880 billion which would be devastating to individuals in the program. We are working with our partners at The Arc U.S. and our local chapters across Texas to mobilize against such cuts to Medicaid.

Related: Urgent Advocacy Opportunity for Residents of Smith and McLennan County: If you live in these regions, your advocacy is especially critical! Contact your congressperson today with this message: "I urge you to protect Medicaid funding, which is a lifeline for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in your districts and across Texas." McLennan County residents should contact Congressman Pete Sessions at 254-633-4500 or email. Residents of Smith County should call Congressman Nathaniel Moran at 903-561-6349 or email.

Advocate Spotlight: Brooke Hohfield

Brooke is Co-Executive Director of Texas Advocates, the largest statewide self-advocacy organization run by and for Texans with IDD. Her advocacy makes a real impact in the fight for equal opportunities for all Texans. Brooke recently testified at the Texas Capitol to the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Article 2, highlighting how important it is for Texas to provide adequate services and supports for people with disabilities.

Watch Brooke's heartfelt testimony (starts at 7:01:42).

During her testimony, when speaking about the need for easier service navigation for people with IDD, especially in the context of crisis diversion, Brooke shared: "In July of 2024, a very close friend of mine, Adam, was in a crisis. My friend who has IDD and needs support with a variety of daily tasks, such as money management, scheduling and attending doctor appointments, and even being able to cook to make sure he eats regularly, had to temporarily move in with me. We made weekly trips to Social Security [Administration], our local LIDDA [Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority], and many other entities. We were just trying to keep our head above water while navigating an overly complicated system. After months in crisis and being overwhelmed with the system, we were sitting in my apartment when we got the call that he had HCS [a Home and Community-based Services waiver]. I told him this must be what it feels like to win the lottery! Today, Adam lives in a HCS host home with a roommate and his best friend, which is his dream come true. In reality, he should not have had to wait until he was in crisis to receive the needed services and certainly it should not have been so complicated to get the supports and services once he was in crisis ... Texans deserve a system that supports them before total chaos ensues."

Brooke, thank you for your brave and passionate advocacy for Texans with IDD!

Your support and advocacy are making a difference, and together, we're pushing for policies that ensure a more inclusive and equitable Texas for all.

DONATE NOW

Help us keep the pressure on policymakers by donating to The Arc of Texas. Thank you.

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