Also in this issue: Medicaid cuts, student discipline, cameras in special ed, and more.
Your source for disability policy news during Texas' 89th Legislative
Session.
Expanded Access to Higher Education for Texans with IDD: Building Better Futures Program Heads to Governor’s Desk After Final Passage in House and Senate
Following its successful passage in the
Texas House, the Senate passed the Building Better Futures bill (HB 2081) with bipartisan support in a 30 to 1 vote on May 13. Watch a clip of the Senate floor proceedings here.With approval from both legislative chambers, the bill now heads to Governor Greg Abbott for consideration. If signed, this landmark legislation would become
state law, establishing a grant program within the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to support colleges and universities in developing and expanding Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) programs across the state. CTP programs provide inclusive higher education opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), helping to ensure equitable access to postsecondary education and career pathways. Currently, only four CTP programs operate in Texas;
HB 2081 seeks to significantly expand this number. This is a meaningful step toward a more inclusive, accessible future for Texans with IDD.
Our Recent Testimony
Building Better Futures Bill: Senate Bill 1679
On May 1, The Arc of Texas partnered with a dynamic group of witnesses including
perspectives from self-advocates with IDD, parents, and former students of Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) programs to testify before the Senate Committee on Education K-16 on SB 1679, the Senate
companion to HB 2081 by Rep. John Bucy III. The bill, filed by Senator José Menéndez, would establish the Building Better Futures Program (see above for details). Thank you to Shelbi Davenport (board member of The Arc of Texas), Kason Erwin, Kandice Thompson, and Brooke Hohfeld for your testimony!
On May 6, our Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Sabrina Gonzalez Saucedo, testified before the House Committee on Public Education in support of SB 57. Authored by Senator Judith Zaffirini, the bill would enhance student safety by requiring that emergency drill accommodations be identified and documented in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). The Arc of Texas supports this bill as a critical step
to ensure school emergency procedures are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all students.
Advocate Spotlight: Amy Litzinger
We're thrilled to recognize Amy Litzinger of Austin for her enduring impact and for her recent advocacy for SB 57
(details above). WATCH Amy's testimony (starts at 3:20)
A longtime friend of The Arc of Texas and a powerful advocate in the disability rights community, she is a native Texan and proud public school system graduate. Amy brings both lived experience and policy insight to her work as the public policy lead for Texas Parent to Parent and as a member of the Texas ABLE Act Advisory Committee.
With a bachelor's degree in English and political science (Southwestern University) and a master’s in theological studies (Austin Seminary), Amy leads efforts in disaster preparedness, peer support networks, and systemic change with clarity, integrity, and heart. Previously, Amy served on the Texas Health and
Human Services Commission's IDD System Redesign Advisory Committee, Texas Children’s Policy Council, National Youth Leadership Network, and National Council on Disability Youth Advisory Council.
Thank you, Amy, for your work to amplify the voices of Texans with disabilities!
Help us amplify the voices of disability rights advocates, like Amy.
On May 6, our Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Sabrina Gonzalez Saucedo, testified before the House Committee on Public Education in support of HB 3312,
filed by Rep. Valoree Swanson. In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a law allowing parents of students receiving special education services to request video cameras in their child’s classroom. HB 3312 builds on that law by extending the required retention period for video recordings to one year from the date of recording and mandates school districts and open-enrollment charter schools retain all video footage involving an employee in any reported incident until the related investigation is
complete. Additionally, the bill prohibits schools from limiting how many times a parent or employee involved in an alleged incident may view the video recordings. The Arc of Texas supports this bill as a measure that promotes transparency, accountability, and the safety of students receiving special education services.
On May 8, our Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Sabrina Gonzalez Saucedo, testified before the Senate Committee on Education K-16 in opposition to HB 6, filed by Rep. Jeff Leach and sponsored by Senator Charles Perry. Known as the “Teachers’ Bill of Rights,” HB 6 expands local authority over student discipline policies and incorporates provisions from Senate Bill 1871. While The Arc of Texas has worked to improve the bill, we
remain concerned it would make it easier to suspend or remove students—including young children—for vague or minor disruptions. This risks disproportionately impacting students with disabilities and pushing them out of the classroom. We urged lawmakers to remove harmful provisions and include crisis prevention training to ensure students receive the support they need.
“Caytlin Handley Act” heard in Senate Education K-16 Committee
On May 8, the Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard testimony in support of HB 1188 (known as the "Caytlin Handley Act"), authored by Rep. Christian Manuel and sponsored by Senator Judith Zaffirini. The bill would require school districts to inform families of students eligible for special education services due to a diagnosis of intellectual
disability or developmental delay about their Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority (LIDDA), ensuring families are informed about Medicaid waiver programs, long-term services and supports, and other community resources.
The Handley family—Caytlin, Carey, and Boyd from Katy, Texas—have been
strong advocates for this bill, tirelessly sharing their personal experiences. On May 13, the Senate Education Committee voted unanimously to advance HB 1188 out of committee and on to the Senate floor for consideration.
Senator Zaffirini lays out the Caytlin Handley Act: 0:32
Testimony by Carey Handley: 2:04
Testimony by Caytlin Handley: 4:10
Testimony by Boyd
Handley: 4:40
Testimony by Sabrina Gonzalez Saucedo: 8:57
Federal Update: Advocating Against Medicaid Cuts
Major Threat to Millions of Texans
The Arc of the United States has serious concerns about the potential impact of ongoing federal budget negotiations on individuals with
disabilities. As Congress debates reducing federal spending, proposed cuts to Medicaid (a joint federal and state program) pose a major threat to millions of Texans.
In Texas, the stakes are especially high. More than 4 million Texans rely on Medicaid, including nearly half of all children in the state and two-thirds of Texans living in nursing homes. Texas already ranks 36 in the
nation in per-person Medicaid spending, and over 176,000 Texans are stuck on waitlists for Medicaid waiver programs that provide critical home and community-based services—some waiting up to 17 years as it is.
These potential cuts have drawn strong opposition from lawmakers and disability advocates alike. During a May 13 hearing of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, several
members of Congress pushed back against proposals to decrease Medicaid funding. Disability rights advocates also made their voices heard, interrupting the hearing with chants of “No cuts to Medicaid,” signaling the urgency of protecting this vital lifeline.
Resource for Texas Lawmakers and Advocates
We encourage advocates to share this Medicaid factsheet from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities with legislators to highlight how proposed Medicaid cuts would impact people with disabilities in
their district.
Help ensure Medicaid continues to support Texans with IDD. Call your members of Congress NOW and use our script below.
What to say (feel free to personalize our script):
"Hi, my name is [NAME] and I live in [CITY]. I am a [Texan with a disability / family member of someone with an intellectual or developmental
disability (IDD)]. Medicaid is essential for [me/my family member] to live independently and access the services we need. Without Medicaid, [I/my family member] would not be able to receive critical support such as help with daily activities, therapies, job support, and community integration. Please do not cut funding for Medicaid. It allows [me/my family member] to live in the community, access education and employment opportunities, and fully participate in society. Thank you for your time,
and please support Texans with disabilities like [me/my loved one]."
We will continue to monitor these developments closely and stand in solidarity with our partners at The Arc of the United States in advocating for the protection and full funding of Medicaid—a vital lifeline for millions of Americans. Thank you for using your voice!
By centering the voices of Texans with disabilities, we're making progress—together. Help us continue.
