Advocacy

Proposed legislation could expand Texas’ capacity for research on mental health and brain-related diseases.

Five bills filed in the Texas Legislature would help older Texans thrive.

State law requires nurse practitioners to maintain expensive contracts with doctors, which is limiting access to care in rural areas. AARP Texas is part of Texans for Healthcare Access, a coalition of nearly 40 organizations urging state lawmakers to end the contractual requirement.

AARP Texas is fighting to protect residents of long-term care facilities, urging greater transparency into nursing home ownership and finances.

Texas legislators can protect medically vulnerable people in their homes and in long-term care facilities.

Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick were sworn into office for their third terms this week. The top Republican leaders outlined ideas for the next four years. Meanwhile, leaders in the state House and Senate unveiled spending plans for the state’s 2024-2025 biennium.

Texans receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) should prepare for reduced payments starting in March. February will be the last month of SNAP Emergency Allotments,

Nearing the two-year anniversary of the deadly winter storm that led to power outages for millions of Texans, AARP Texas is pushing for reforms to help protect residents during natural disasters.

AARP Texas is praising the Austin City Council for rejecting a proposed $ 25-a-month electric service customer charge. The City Council instead approved on Dec. 8 changes to its rates that will result in an overall $9 a month increase, which includes a $3 a month hike in the customer charge. AARP Texas had expressed concerns that a higher customer charge would have hit hard many Austinites, particularly older residents on fixed incomes and others struggling to make ends meet.

AARP Austin in partnership Safe Streets Austin has helped create public spaces designed for residents of all ages, abilities and needs. The "Healthy Streets" initiative, allowed for the closing of a 10-mile stretch of Austin's roads to vehicles so that it would be open to walkers and cyclists. This temporary pandemic closure has now become permanent. AARP continues to fight for a healthier Austin.