10/15/2026
Following a joint directive from Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows ordering state agencies to slash spending by 3%, Texas HHSC has proposed completely eliminating the Children’s Autism Program (CAP) for FY 2028–2029, gutting a vital lifeline that provides low-cost ABA therapy to hundreds of autistic children across the state.
While autism diagnoses have increased 300% over the last 20 years and more than 1,000 Texas kids remain on multi-year waitlists, HHSC has requested $0 for CAP (down from ~$6.8M/year). For families without private coverage or Medicaid, there is no backup plan.
Other proposed cuts threaten to eliminate state funding for prescription drug programs and indigent health care entirely, alongside reductions of over $15 million a year for community mental health grants and more than $26 million a year for women’s health programs.
This isn't happening because Texas is broke, the state is sitting on massive reserves:
• $28 billion in the Rainy Day Fund
• $4.7 billion in unspent General Revenue balances
• $7.5 billion in federal reimbursements for Operation Lone Star
Yet while essential therapies and safety-net healthcare face elimination under this 3% cut mandate, state officials have requested to more than double funding for the private school voucher program to $2.3 billion. State budgets reflect our priorities. This November elect leaders who put Texas families and children first.
To read the full shorty, visit:
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/12/texas-childrens-autism-program-elimination-threat/?utm_source=thetexastribune.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=the-brief-october-13-2026-1&_bhlid=0bad11b80ab2b1877e6d92016f68b25d968446cb
