• Reducing the Interest List (Senate Bill 1): Lawmakers funded an additional 947 waiver slots over the next two years. With over 180,000 Texans still waiting for access to critical home and community-based services, this modest investment falls far short of the transformational action needed to truly address the crisis. Read our testimony. 

• Direct Support Professional (DSP) Wages (Senate Bill 1): The Legislature approved a wage increase for community-based DSPs, raising pay from $10.60 to $13 per hour. While any increase is welcome, this still leaves DSP wages well below what’s needed to stabilize the workforce—especially compared to DSPs in State Supported Living Centers, who earn closer to $17–$19 per hour. Read our testimony. 

• Outpatient Biopsychosocial Intervention (OBI) Program Expansion (Senate Bill 1): Lawmakers allocated $5.2 million to expand the OBI program designed to serve Texans with a dual diagnosis of IDD and mental health conditions. This investment is a positive step toward meeting the needs of people with dual diagnoses. Read our testimony. 

• Private School Vouchers (Senate Bill 2): Despite strong opposition from advocates, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed an Education Savings Account program into law. We remain deeply concerned about the potential impact on students with disabilities and will closely monitor its implementation. Read our testimony. 

• Special Education Funding Reform (Senate Bill 568): As a result, Texas will adopt a new service intensity-based funding model for special education beginning in 2026. We strongly supported this long-overdue reform and will continue monitoring this transition to a more equitable funding system. Read our testimony. 

• Caytlin Handley Act (House Bill 1188): This landmark legislation ensures families receive a referral from their school district to their Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority during their first Individualized Education Program meeting after being identified as having an intellectual disability or developmental delay. Its passage is a direct result of advocacy from the Handley family, our Public Policy and Advocacy Committee, and partners across the state. Read our testimony. 

• Building Better Futures Program (House Bill 2081): This new grant program provides funding for colleges and universities to create or expand Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary programs—offering inclusive educational and career training opportunities for students with IDD. We’re proud to have led the advocacy effort on this legislation and thank our incredible self-advocates who partnered with us. Read our testimony. 

• Senate Bill 769: Requires institutions of higher education to collect and report data on the enrollment, retention, and success of students with disabilities—an important step toward identifying and removing barriers. Read our testimony. 
• House Bill 2310: Directs the development of a statewide strategic plan to improve access to inclusive early childhood education. Read our testimony. 
• Senate Bill 57: Enhances emergency planning protocols for students with disabilities during safety drills, disasters, and emergencies. Read our testimony. 

• Peer Support Services (House Bill 1941): This bill would have allowed Medicaid to cover peer support services for people with IDD, creating paid roles for trained peers to provide mentorship, promote self-determination, and build community. Although it did not pass, it gained strong momentum and we'll continue advocating for it in future sessions. Read our testimony. 

• Vocational Rehabilitation Funding (Senate Bill 1): We called for increased state funding to meet the employment support needs of Texans with IDD and fully draw down available federal vocational rehabilitation funds. Unfortunately, lawmakers did not allocate sufficient funding to secure the full federal match. Read our testimony. 

Shortly after the regular session ended, Governor Abbott officially called lawmakers back to Austin for a special session beginning July 21. The initial agenda includes regulation of hemp products containing THC, changes to the criminal justice system, water rights management, and more. The list of issues may be expanded at the Governor’s discretion. We will continue to monitor developments and remain ready to engage.

While the regular session delivered meaningful progress, much work remains. The Arc of Texas will continue our advocacy through the interim to ensure new laws are implemented with equity, transparency, and accountability. 

No matter the challenge, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing policies that promote inclusion, protect rights, and improve the quality of life for Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Thank you for your partnership—and for continuing the work with us. 

With gratitude and respect for each of you,

The Arc of Texas Public Policy and Advocacy Team

Sabrina Gonzalez Saucedo | Director of Public Policy and Advocacy

Michael Clarke | Deputy Director of Public Policy and Advocacy

Kate Stoops | Public Policy and Advocacy Assistant