Texas has invested in the right policies for mental health

Most conversations about politics today focus on conflict and division, but the Texas Legislature has shown once again that one key issue remains above the fray: mental health. Over the past decade, Texas lawmakers have steadily and thoughtfully invested in our state mental health system. And in the regular session that ended earlier this year, they continued their commitment to making Texas the nation’s leader in mental health.
This didn’t happen by accident. Mental illness affects 20% of the population, and it doesn’t recognize party lines or geographic boundaries. It affects children, veterans, teachers, first responders, and mothers and fathers. Nearly everyone has a family member or loved one who is affected in some way by mental illness.
For too long, however, mental health was seen as separate from physical health care. Not anymore. Texas has learned that the brain is part of the body, and it must be cared for and treated in the same way we do for any other medical issue such as heart disease or cancer.
Lawmakers have consistently delivered on this belief. The Texas Legislature made sizable investments in mental health during the 2021 session as lawmakers grappled with the effects of COVID-19. In the 2023 session, lawmakers appropriated a record $11.68 billion for behavioral health programs, including $9.4 billion in ongoing funding, a figure that Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, said was the largest single increase in funding in any state in history.
Given that investment, there was an early sense in the 2025 session that attention would shift away from mental health. But despite the fact that there was not an explicit agenda, the Texas Legislature continued to make mental health a priority, earmarking $10.41 billion in ongoing behavioral health funding across 30 state agencies, including youth crisis outreach teams, inpatient facilities, workforce initiatives, telehealth services for students and more. That represents an increase of more than $3.8 billion in ongoing funding — nearly 60% — since 2015. Mental health has become part of the conversation. And that’s a great thing for Texas.
But what does it mean for the average Texan? As rates of chronic anxiety and depression among children continue to rise, lawmakers focused on a forward-thinking initiative that recognizes the strong link between physical and mental health. Senate Bill 25, authored by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, focused on health education, nutrition and regular physical exercise for children to prevent chronic health issues before they start. With half of all mental illnesses beginning by age 14, intervening early and using education and wellness to help children build the habits and knowledge that support lifelong health is essential.
At the same time, lawmakers stepped up for first responders — firefighters and emergency medical services personnel — who face the threat of traumatizing events every single day on the job. House Bill 35, authored by Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, created the Texas First Responder Peer Network, which is modeled after a successful program already in place for police officers. This bill enables our heroic men and women to have a place to turn for confidential, peer-based mental health support.
Finally, a major initiative championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has the promise to transform brain health. Senate Bill 5, authored by Huffman, created the Dementia Prevention Research Institute of Texas to expedite innovation in research on dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and related disorders. By accelerating research, not only will countless lives be improved with better brain health, but Texas will remain at the leading edge of medical research. This kind of long-term, focused investment signals a new era of leadership in neuroscience and aging research. In November, voters will have the chance to vote on this initiative, as Proposition 14, to invest $3 billion over the next decade for research and scientific breakthroughs. If approved, this will make Texas a global leader in neuroscience and aging research.
By making ongoing investments and building programs based on evidence and data, Texas is following a coordinated strategy that addresses the full continuum of mental health care. With these initiatives, we are helping Texans get the care they need, when they need it, and we are setting the standard for the future of mental health policy in America.