Texas Disability Bills Are Already in the Prefile Stack: Seven Measures From a Police-Stop Alert to a Deaf-Blind Navigation Program

The first edition of the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities' legislative bulletin for the 90th Texas Legislature, published Tuesday, does two things at once: it records the new political map, and it names the disability bills already sitting in the prefile stack. The council's election wrap-up states the shape of the Capitol that convenes on January 12, 2027: Gina Hinojosa as the state's first Democratic governor since 1994, James Talarico as its first Democratic U.S. senator since 1993, a full Democratic sweep of statewide races, a Democratic Texas House majority for the first time in over two decades, and a Texas Senate that remains under Republican control - with dozens of new lawmakers and, in the council's words, a potential divide in priorities between the two chambers.

Bill filing began Monday, November 9, and lawmakers filed over 1,200 bills on the first day - against about 9,000 filed through the entire 2025 regular session. The council names seven pre-filed bills on disability issues. HB 170, by Rep. Armando “Mando” Martinez, relates to using vehicle registration information to notify peace officers that a person has a health condition or disability that may affect communication. HB 209, by Rep. Mary González, would have the Health and Human Services Commission create a co-navigation service program for people who are deaf-blind. SB 90, by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, relates to the regulation of childcare facilities and registered family homes, including services to children with disabilities.

The schools and justice measures complete the list. HB 541, by Rep. John Bucy III, covers behavior management requirements for students in special education programs at public schools. HB 603, by Rep. Suleman Lalani, covers public school policy to address eloping behavior by students with autism or other intellectual or developmental disabilities. HB 545, by Rep. Joe Moody, relates to the use of the death penalty for a capital offense committed by a person with an intellectual disability. And SB 142, by Sen. José Menéndez, would create an education and training program for public transportation vehicle operators on interacting with and supporting people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Prefiling is the starting gun, not a result - the council notes that pre-filed bills often include measures filed last session that did not pass, messaging bills, and lawmakers' stated top priorities, and that filing early can bid for an early hearing once committees are announced. For advocates, the council is holding online policy priority roundtables beginning next week: Employment, Housing, and Transportation on Wednesday, November 18, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Central, and Attendant Wages and Training, Community Living, and Mental Health on Thursday, December 1, at the same time. This desk will track the seven named bills as committees form.