April 15th, 2025
From our friends at Texas Council on Developmental Disabilities:
IDD Coordinating Council
TCDD Senior Public Policy Analyst Lauren Gerken provided verbal testimony on March 25 to the House Human Services Committee on House Bill (HB) 2807, which would establish a statewide intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) coordinating council. She discussed how this new council would bring multiple agencies together to develop strategies on optimizing the complex system of Medicaid waivers, education, and more. The council would also ensure implementation and proper oversight of a five-year statewide IDD strategic plan. Gerken detailed how this new council would differ from other state disability entities (PDF) such as TCDD and the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities. HB 2807 was featured as a TCDD Bill of the Week.
Soft-Skills Training
Gerken also gave verbal testimony on March 25 to the House Subcommittee on Workforce on HB 1147, which would require the Texas Workforce Commission to establish a workplace soft-skills training pilot program. Gerken said that, while the bill is not specifically related to disability, it could allow people with disabilities to gain a certificate for soft skills that they were unable to qualify for previously. The bill would also give people with disabilities an opportunity to engage in the workforce in a more meaningful way to increase their employability.
Resources to Contact Lawmakers and Give Testimony
The House Research Organization recently published its list of legislative staff (PDF, 28 pages, 3.9 MB) for the 89th Legislature. The document provides the names and titles of staff in lawmaker and committee offices, both for the House and the Senate. It is a helpful tool for making initial contact with staff, or for following up after you’ve spoken with an office.
If you’d like to give remarks at an upcoming hearing but aren’t sure how to craft your comments, we’ve created a My Testimony Blueprint (PDF) that can be used as a guide. For more legislative advocacy resources, visit our website.
HB 1936 would strengthen the enforcement of accessible parking violations. It was authored by Rep. David Cook.
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