Though 2021 was a tough year for our state and our country, we wanted to take this time to reflect on all the amazing work you helped us accomplish. We are forever grateful for the support, the work and the community you have helped us build in order to make Texas a more fair and […]
Oppose Anti-Vaccination Legislation
ISSUE Employers and other entities are considering or have already instituted requirements that employees get vaccinated for COVID-19. However, several bills have been filed in the third called special legislative session to essentially nullify these requirements. A few also would not allow colleges and public schools to require that their students receive vaccinations to attend […]
Masks Save Lives; Protect Our Kids!
ISSUE COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates in Texas continue to skyrocket, yet Governor Greg Abbott refuses to protect our children by requiring masks be worn on public school campuses. Worse, he has said that no jurisdiction in Texas can pass a mask mandate…including schools! Right now less than 15% of kids 12-17 years old are […]
Support Medicaid Expansion in Texas
Written comments accepted until June 28 ISSUE While the 87th regular legislative session is over and Medicaid expansion did not get passed, we all have a chance to make our support for it known. Until June 28, Texas Health and Human Services is accepting comments during the state’s 1115 waiver extension application process. Every comment […]
Clothes Hanger Crusade Against SB 8–the ‘Heartbeat’ Bill
ISSUE Join our Clothes Hanger Crusade against SB 8, flooding our state lawmakers with clothes hangers to remind them that their vote and support of the ‘heartbeat’ bill has set women’s rights back to the days of clothes hangers and back-alley abortions. The bill will go into effect on September 1st. We are letting our […]
Budget Action for SB 1 In Conference Committee
MAY 10 UPDATE ISSUE Both the Senate and House have passed their versions of the appropriations bill (SB 1). A conference committee is now deciding how to reconcile the differences in the bills, which will determine how much money will be spent for the next two fiscal years. This stage of the budget process will […]
Senate Should Pass a Year of Medicaid Coverage for Mothers (HB 133)
ISSUE Texas leads the nation in maternal mortality–women dying after childbirth. HB 133, currently in the Senate Health and Human Service Committee, would extend Medicaid for 12 months after pregnancy. HB 133 would save women’s lives. The staff of the chair of the Senate HHS Committee is saying that HB 133 is not needed because […]
Stop Anti-Abortion Bills in the House (HBs 1515, 3218, 3760, 2313, 2337)
ISSUE Five really bad bills are in the House Calendars Committee, which schedules when bills will be heard on the House floor. We want them to stay there and not come to floor for a vote. HB 1515 would ban all abortions after a “heartbeat” is detectable. This would be at about 6 weeks, before […]
Axe the Tampon Tax! (Approve HB 321)
COMMITTEE HEARING IS MONDAY, APRIL 19 AT 10 AM ISSUE Period poverty is when menstruators cannot afford or access menstrual hygiene products such as pads and tampons. Currently, these products are taxed as if they are luxury items, when in fact they are necessary healthcare products. The “tampon tax” unfairly burdens Texans in period poverty […]
Support Expanding Medicaid in Texas (HBs 1741 and 3871)
ACT FROM NOW THROUGH MAY ISSUE The Texas budget would get a boost by expanding Medicaid in Texas. Expanding Medicaid would save the Texas budget $100 million while providing comprehensive healthcare to 1.2 million adult Texans who earn less than $17,000 a year. Expanding Medicaid would also save county budgets the property tax dollars currently […]
More Attacks on Transgender Youth and Those Who Care for Them (SBs 1311/1646, HBs 1399/1424)
ISSUE Quick Take: There will be hearings this week (week of April 12) on several bills that would limit healthcare access for transgender children. Senate, Monday, April 12, 9 AM Senate State Affairs Committee hearing on SBs 1311 and 1646. SB 1311 would ban healthcare providers from providing gender-affirming care to transgender children. SB 1646 […]
Show You Oppose Anti-Abortion Bills That Take Away Texan’s Rights!
Important: The hearing on these bills is Wednesday, April 7 ISSUE A group of highly restrictive anti-abortion bills, including the 6-week fetal heartbeat bill, have already passed the Texas Senate and are scheduled to sail through a hearing in the House Public Health Committee beginning at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, April 7th. If these bills […]
Save Lives, Save the Budget, Expand Medicaid!
ISSUE Texas is in a healthcare crisis. Texas is currently one of the worst states for healthcare because of the lack of accountability of our state leaders. Nearly one in five Texans is uninsured, and no adult or adult parent in Texas is eligible for Medicaid because our legislators refuse to expand it. Especially in […]