A Message From Our CEO:
The regular 88th Legislative Session ended in May, with two special sessions called by Governor Abbott to address remaining policy issues. In recent years, mental health has emerged as a critical public health issue, demanding urgent attention from policymakers and stakeholders alike. As economic challenges and events such as the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect people’s well-being, the need for comprehensive mental health services and support has become increasingly evident. This session, Texas had an unprecedented surplus of $32.7B to work with and lawmakers negotiated a $321.3B budget. The Legislature appropriated $9.4B to behavioral health across 25 state agencies, a 15% increase from last session. Behavioral Health legislation was top of mind this session, with some notable behavioral health bills.