AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has proposed eliminating funding for the state's Children's Autism Program (CAP), a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from parents and advocates. The proposed cut, detailed in the agency's budget request for the 2028-2029 biennium, comes as state leadership has mandated a 3% reduction in agency budgets.
Program Background and Impact
Established in 2008, the Children's Autism Program contracts with 16 providers across Texas to offer applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to autistic children. The program aims to serve lower-income families, with costs based on family income and insurance coverage. Children are eligible for up to 720 hours of ABA therapy throughout their lifetime. In fiscal year 2025, 655 children received services through the program, and contractors reported at least 1,000 more on waitlists in fiscal year 2026. Recently, in August 2026, HHSC expanded eligibility to individuals up to age 21 and removed a cap on yearly therapy hours.
Reasons for Proposed Elimination
The proposed elimination is a response to a directive from Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows, who called for agencies to reduce their base budget requests by 3%. The HHSC stated that it focused on cuts with the lowest direct service impact to clients. However, parents like Elizabeth Solis, whose nonverbal 7-year-old son Israel uses the program, expressed distress. "If the doors just completely close to access that at all, you just feel like it’s all caving in on you, like ‘how am I going to get some help?’" Solis said. Another parent, Aida Garcia, noted that the therapy is a "necessity" for her two daughters with autism, stating that without the program, she would have to teach them herself due to the unaffordability of private therapy.
Legislative Decision Pending
The Texas Legislature, which convenes on January 12, 2027, will ultimately decide the program's fate. If lawmakers vote to end the program, services would continue through August 2027, according to HHSC. Advocacy groups, such as the Partner Resource Network, are encouraging parents to contact their state representatives to preserve the program's funding.
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