Legislative Priorities for the 88th Texas Legislature
The Early Learning Alliance is working toward a future in which every child has the foundation they need to succeed in school and in life. To achieve this vision, we must engage with policy makers at every level of government. The 88th Texas Legislative Session is January-May 2023, and there is potential for great wins for children and families.
ELA supports the following legislative actions, sorted into the three Prenatal to Three Collaborative categories of Healthy Beginnings, Supported Families, and Early Care and Education.
Healthy Beginnings
Implement Medicaid coverage for 12 months postpartum to promote healthy mothers and babies during the first critical year of a baby’s life.
Supported Families
Scale and expand universal postpartum home visitation programs for newborn caregivers to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Increase funding for Texas Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) to address chronic underfunding, which has led to a drop in enrolled children in prior years, challenges maintaining staffing levels, and reduced funding per child for this critical program that helps infants and toddlers with disabilities get life-changing therapies.
Invest in our state’s information and referral system (211 Texas) and strengthen its ability to serve as a front door, connector, and data resource for community needs and services.
Early Care and Education
Offer property tax relief to child care providers participating in Texas Workforce Commission’s scholarship program.
Enact recommendations of House Bill 619 (87th R) (Thompson|Button|et al) to support the child care workforce.
Invest in child care infrastructure by:
Creating bedrock funding to provide stable income to child care providers serving infants and toddlers, in child care deserts, or are working towards or already achieved Texas Rising Star Levels 3 or 4;
Setting reimbursement rates at true cost of care instead of the market rate; and
Ensuring providers receive the highest reimbursement based on quality rate, not what they can charge families.
Download ELA’s legislative priorities here.
