Advocacy

Our Advocacy

The Texas Coalition for Healthy Minds focuses on mobilizing interested stakeholders to work with state leaders to improve policies and increase funding for mental health services and access to care in Texas.

The 89th Legislature

View our Policy Priorities for the 89th Texas Legislature

Click the priority below to view our policy content including one-pagers, testimony, and more.

Behavioral Health Workforce

Enable licensed
master’s level
professionals to
bill Medicaid for
services
Dedicate $20
million for
Behavioral Health
Innovation Grant
Program.

Institutional Rights & Civil Liberties

Expand
successful OBI
Pilot to five new
locations
Increase funding
for jail Continuity
of Care (COC)
liaisons.

Substance Use Disorders

Fund more
recovery housing
accreditation
Update patient
brokering and
deceptive
marketing laws
Expand access to
drug checking.

Behavioral Health
Information &
Technology

Expand
interoperability
among LMHAs &
state hospitals
Provide technology
grants for
freestanding
psychiatric
hospitals.

Youth Mental Health

Ensure schools
have resources to
support student
mental health
Expand
community
based SMART
Grants.

In the interim…

TCHM and the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health are cohosting the 2024 Behavioral Health Policy Summit on October 10. Learn more and attend:

800+ Attendees Learn About the Loan Repayment Program for Mental Health Professionals | View the Recording Here
HHSC Legislative Appropriations Request

TCHM developed and provided comments to HHSC regarding behavioral health funding. This is the first time the coalition has formally provided input on behalf of our membership.

House and Senate Interim Charges Recommendations for 89th Legislature

After the fourth called special session, House members submit interim charges recommendations. The Coalition, through its workgroups, developed a series of study requests. We submitted the same requests in the Senate through Senator Johnson.

The 88th Legislature

View our Policy Priorities for the 88th Texas Legislature

Click below to view our policy content including one-pagers, testimony, and more.

Behavioral Health Workforce

Increase Funding and Expand Loan
Repayment Program for Mental Health Professionals

Youth Mental Health

Establish School
Mental Heath
Allotment and Secure Additional Community-Based Support

Institutional Rights & Civil Liberties

Ensure Medication Continuity for Justice-Involved Individuals

State Budget

Invest in
Workforce,
Infrastructure,
and Expanded
Services

Substance Use Disorders

Adopt Voluntary
Accreditation of
Recovery Housing And
Update Patient
Brokering and
Anti-Kickback Laws

Priority Bills

Testimony & Resources

2/6/2023 – Senate Finance Committee – Increasing the Loan Repayment Program for Mental Health Professionals

2/6/2023 – Senate Finance Committee – Supporting a School Mental Health Allotment

2/21/2023 – Senate Finance Committee – Funding for Children’s Community Mental Health

2/27/2023 – House Appropriations Committee – Medication Continuity

3/20/23 – House Higher Education – HB 15 Mental Health and Brain Institute of Texas

4/5/23 – Letter to Representatives Thompson and King on HB 13 – School Safety Allotment

5/1/23 – Letter of Recommendations to Opioid Abatement Trust Fund Council (OAFC)

5/11/23 – Statement on School Mental Health Allotment