As we look back on the 89th Legislative Session, the National Association of Social Workers – Texas Chapter recognizes both how the Legislature made progress and missed opportunities to advance policies that impact social work practice and the communities we serve. This session we faced a multitude of challenges under a newly elected House Speaker, Dustin Burrows, and more than 34 new members in the Texas House of Representatives. Amid changes in leadership, new committee appointments, and the focus on public education funding, NASW-TX’s government affairs team remained steadfast—advocating for social work priorities, opposing discriminatory legislation, promoting social work values, and defeating measures that negatively impact vulnerable clients.

       While we were disappointed some of our priority bills did not make it to the finish line, there were also important victories that will improve access to services and strengthen support for Texans in need. Lawmakers were faced with funding these efforts amid the uncertainty of potential federal policy changes, some of which could interfere with or alter how some bills are ultimately implemented. This complex environment required legislators to weigh immediate needs against the possibility of shifting federal rules and funding streams, resulting in some compromises.

       This report is not an exhaustive review of every bill filed or passed, but rather a summary of key legislative actions, budget highlights, and notable gaps relevant to our members and clients. Our goal is to provide a clear overview of policy changes that may affect your work and the individuals, families, and communities you serve.
       We are deeply grateful, first to our amazing NASW-Texas members, and second, to social workers across the state, who took the time and the effort to respond to action alerts, contact their legislators, and share their expertise and stories throughout the legislative session–whether with the association or testifying at the capitol. Your grassroots advocacy makes a difference—and continues to strengthen our profession’s voice at the Capitol. Thank you for amplifying NASW-Texas’ legislative work, and for participating in our efforts to transform Texas along social work values and ideals. 

Note: This document is meant to be a broad summary of legislative action relevant to social workers and the clients we serve. Not all topics or bills are covered. Further, we included some bills that NASW-TX did not weigh in on for a variety of reasons but felt it was important to include in the legislative summary. Check out our 89th Legislative Session Bill Tracker here for the rest of the bills we monitored.

Read the full Legislative summary here.