Support the TSHA PAC
The mission of the TSHA Political Action Committee (PAC) is to support candidates for state office whose records and policy positions demonstrate an understanding of the importance of speech-language pathology and audiology professionals and supports legislative efforts to maintain access to high-quality services for our consumers. TSHA members can make a PAC contribution via the dues renewal or convention registration forms, or at the PAC booth at the annual convention.
Learn more about the Texas legislative process
Additional Texas State Legislative Resources
Contact Your Legislators
We have your senators' and representatives' contact information listed to make reaching out easy.
Find and Contact Your Legislators
Learn Why Legislation is Important to TSHA and You
- Legislation affects our professions
- Legislation can provide funds for student loan repayment for SLPs and audiologists employed in Texas public schools
- Legislation affects reimbursement for services
- Legislation affects who provides services
- Legislation affects how services are provided
- Legislation can affect the quality of services
- Legislation can affect consumer access to services
- Legislation affects legislature
For legislators to make informed decisions about our professions and our consumers it takes all of us educating them about what speech-language pathologists and audiologists do and the impact we have on the lives of our consumers.
TSHA has a legislative team in place to support and guide you in participating in grassroots efforts.
Review TSHA's Current Legislative Platform
The Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) has a robust membership of more than 5000 speech-language pathologists and audiologists, and it is the recognized authority on the delivery of life-changing therapies to consumers with communication disorders throughout the state of Texas. TSHA is committed to shaping governmental policies and practices in order to promote the highest quality of life-changing care for individuals with communication and related disorders.
Focus Issues (Regulatory)
- Address regulations within the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), and the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHSC) to ensure the “scope of practice” of speech-language pathologists (SLP’s) and audiologists and other entities are adhered to in the diagnosis and treatment of children and adults with communication and its related disorders.
- Ensuring that scientifically based definitions of Evidence Based Practice (EBP) are utilized in the individual education, and health care, planning and provision of services to persons with communication and its related disorders by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), TDLR and HHSC.
- Work with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), and HHSC to develop equitable funding formulas, and universal contracts for SLP’s and audiologists providing services in Texas.
- Address “encroachment” issues, particularly related to services for individuals with dyslexia and those on the autism spectrum.
Legislative Session Preparation
- Legislation that ensures that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Advisory Committee for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology is empowered to protect the public by the efficient and effective regulation of the profession.
- Legislation that protects consumers who have communication disorders.
- Legislation that ensures speech-language pathologists and audiologists provide the highest quality evaluation, habilitation, and rehabilitation services.
- Legislation and regulation that addresses encroachment on the scope of practice of speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
- Legislation that should, or does, include speech-language pathologists and audiologists in any public school funding bill that will increase salaries for teachers and other professional staff.
- Legislation that promotes funding for public education as necessary to provide students with an adequate and equitable education; TSHA also supports increased funding for higher education.
- Legislation ensuring existing state public education dollars are not reduced and/or redirected (e.g., to private and/or charter schools).
- Legislation that addresses efforts to streamline and reduce duplication of paperwork requirements, thereby increasing the availability of time for delivery of direct services to students.
- Legislation that enhances state funding for the Texas Medicaid program to stabilize provider reimbursement rates across all provider work settings.
- Legislation that mandates improved coverage for speech, language, hearing and balance disorders through public and private insurers for habilitative and rehabilitative services.
Review Current Legislative Activity
TSHA's Legislative Activity Tracker
Catch Up on Capitol Watch
Capitol Watch Archives
Participate in TSHA's Capitol Visit Day
Please stay tuned for more information regarding TSHA's upcoming Capitol Visit Day.
Join the Student Legislative Action Committee (SLAC)
Students are especially important to TSHA because we make up the second-largest group of TSHA members! And TSHA is especially important to students because membership in TSHA ensures that students can stay informed and have a voice in decisions being made that will impact their future.
The Student Legislative Active Committee (SLAC) is searching for legislative student representatives from each university in the Lone Star State. Students interested in being active in the exciting world of politics are encouraged to participate. If you have any questions or thoughts, please visit the contact us page for the VP of Social and Governmental Policy and email the current SLAC chair.