{"id":42841,"date":"2025-07-01T13:06:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T18:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/?p=42841"},"modified":"2025-07-01T13:06:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T18:06:19","slug":"89th-regular-legislative-session-concluded-moving-forward-as-an-empowered-and-united-casa-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/2025\/07\/01\/89th-regular-legislative-session-concluded-moving-forward-as-an-empowered-and-united-casa-network\/","title":{"rendered":"89th\u202fRegular Legislative Session Concluded: Moving Forward as an Empowered and United CASA Network"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-image42841_a88b14-13 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image42841_a88b14-13\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/From_the_CEO_Vicki_Spriggs.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-32316\" srcset=\"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/From_the_CEO_Vicki_Spriggs.png 1920w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/From_the_CEO_Vicki_Spriggs-228x128.png 228w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/From_the_CEO_Vicki_Spriggs-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/From_the_CEO_Vicki_Spriggs-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/From_the_CEO_Vicki_Spriggs-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/From_the_CEO_Vicki_Spriggs-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/From_the_CEO_Vicki_Spriggs-500x281.png 500w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/From_the_CEO_Vicki_Spriggs-100x56.png 100w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/From_the_CEO_Vicki_Spriggs-1184x666.png 1184w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dear Friends,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the Governor\u2019s veto deadline behind us, the <a href=\"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/89th-legislative-session-outcomes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">89th\u202fRegular Legislative Session has officially concluded<\/a>.\u202fThanks to the Texas CASA Public Policy Team and CASA legislative advocates across the state, we moved forward on multiple fronts with new laws, critical funding and long-overdue accountability measures that will make a difference for children and families.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Texas CASA Priority Bills Passed<\/em><\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This session, we championed <a href=\"https:\/\/capitol.texas.gov\/BillLookup\/Text.aspx?LegSess=89R&amp;Bill=SB2165\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SB 2165<\/a>, so courts can no longer dismiss a child\u2019s case just because they\u2019ve\u202fgone missing or ran away. We advocated for <a href=\"https:\/\/capitol.texas.gov\/BillLookup\/Text.aspx?LegSess=89R&amp;Bill=SB1398\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SB 1398<\/a>, which strengthens oversight of Community-Based Care and gives communities a formal voice in the process. We pushed for <a href=\"https:\/\/capitol.texas.gov\/BillLookup\/Text.aspx?LegSess=89R&amp;Bill=HB4655\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HB 4655<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/capitol.texas.gov\/BillLookup\/Text.aspx?LegSess=89R&amp;Bill=HB4655\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">,<\/a>\u202fwhich expands the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL)\u202fcurriculum and adds real-life financial tools like credit\u202fscore education, budgeting guidance and fraud prevention \u2014 something our young adults have needed for a long time.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s\u202fmore: <a href=\"https:\/\/capitol.texas.gov\/BillLookup\/Text.aspx?LegSess=89R&amp;Bill=HB694\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HB 694<\/a>\u202fspeeds up notifications to parents, CASA and other legal parties on CPS cases. <a href=\"https:\/\/capitol.texas.gov\/BillLookup\/Text.aspx?LegSess=89R&amp;Bill=HB1211\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HB 1211<\/a>\u202fgives youth who have aged out of care more time \u2014 until age 27 \u2014 to lock in their tuition waiver. And <a href=\"https:\/\/capitol.texas.gov\/BillLookup\/Text.aspx?LegSess=89R&amp;Bill=HB908\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HB 908<\/a>\u202fensures law enforcement acts fast when a child goes missing.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Funding<\/em><\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Texas CASA worked alongside our partners to help secure full state funding to cover\u202fthe federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding shortfall through HB 500, and Texas CASA received an additional $1.5 million in SB 1 to help CASA programs meet new background check requirements so we all can stay focused on what matters: showing up for kids and families.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Atenci\u00f3n comunitaria <\/em><\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This session, legislators funded the expansion of Community-Based Care (CBC) into the remaining four Department of Family and Protective Services legacy regions: Region 7A (Central Texas\/Waco), Region 7B (Capital Area), Region 11A (South Texas\/Corpus Christi) and Region 11B (Rio Grande Valley). \u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Community-Based Care oversight improved this session, with several CBC oversight bills passing, Texas CASA believes that successful implementation will take everyone in each community paying attention and <a href=\"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/LATs-Interim-To-Dos.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">staying engaged locally<\/a>.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>What\u2019s Next? <\/strong>\u202f\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, as\u202fwe look to the next session, we\u2019re\u202fnot letting our guard down. The Department of Family and Protective Services and the Health and Human Services Commission are going under Sunset Review, and we will be actively participating in that process by providing feedback on what is working well and what could be improved in those agencies. Over the next two years, we plan to work with our local CASA programs to build relationships with their legislators, spread the message about CASA\u2019s needs proactively and prepare for the next legislative session.\u202fThose conversations have already begun.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, I want to say that I\u2019m proud of the Public Policy Team\u2019s work over this last year \u2014 they provided more than 65 hours of training and information sessions between the events and meetings they hosted before and during the 89<sup>th<\/sup> Legislative Session. They are planning on doing even more as we move forward as an empowered and united CASA network towards the 90<sup>th<\/sup> Legislative Session in 2027.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mis mejores deseos, <\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image42841_649ebf-f1 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image42841_649ebf-f1 size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Vicki-Email-Signature-1024x341.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-42483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Vicki-Email-Signature-1024x341.png 1024w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Vicki-Email-Signature-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Vicki-Email-Signature-228x76.png 228w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Vicki-Email-Signature-768x256.png 768w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Vicki-Email-Signature-18x6.png 18w, https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Vicki-Email-Signature.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear Friends,&nbsp; With the Governor\u2019s veto deadline behind us, the 89th\u202fRegular Legislative Session has officially concluded.\u202fThanks to the Texas CASA Public Policy Team and CASA legislative advocates across the state, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":41323,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_gspb_post_css":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[89,96,108,94],"tags":[],"topics":[],"class_list":["post-42841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casa-voice","category-from-the-ceo","category-press-releases","category-public-policy"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":89,"label":"The CASA Voice"},{"value":96,"label":"From the CEO"},{"value":108,"label":"Press Releases"},{"value":94,"label":"Public Policy"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/texascasa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/VickiSpriggs1080-1024x1024.jpg",1024,1024,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Kelly Clarke","author_link":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/author\/kclarke\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":89,"name":"The CASA Voice","slug":"casa-voice","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":89,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":120,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":89,"category_count":120,"category_description":"","cat_name":"The CASA Voice","category_nicename":"casa-voice","category_parent":0},{"term_id":96,"name":"From the CEO","slug":"from-the-ceo","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":96,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":21,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":96,"category_count":21,"category_description":"","cat_name":"From the CEO","category_nicename":"from-the-ceo","category_parent":0},{"term_id":108,"name":"Press Releases","slug":"press-releases","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":108,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":40,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":108,"category_count":40,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Press Releases","category_nicename":"press-releases","category_parent":0},{"term_id":94,"name":"Public Policy","slug":"public-policy","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":94,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":34,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":94,"category_count":34,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Public Policy","category_nicename":"public-policy","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42841"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42841\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42841"},{"taxonomy":"topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/texascasa.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topics?post=42841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}