Texas Children’s Autism Program budget proposal

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has proposed the total elimination of funding for the Children’s Autism Program (CAP) in its budget request for the 2028-2029 biennium. The proposal is reportedly driven by state budget cuts and a directive from state leadership, including Governor Greg Abbott, to reduce agency spending by 3%.

Established in 2008, CAP provides low-cost applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to autistic children based on family income and insurance coverage. While the state recently expanded the program to include individuals up to age 21 and removed yearly hour caps, the new budget proposal would remove the line item entirely. Officials stated the agency focused reductions on areas with the “lowest direct service impact to clients.”

Advocates, parents, and providers have expressed concern regarding the impact on families. In fiscal year 2026, the program funded treatment for 583 children, though reports indicate at least 1,000 children remain on statewide waitlists. Experts noted that while Medicaid covers some ABA therapy, significant gaps remain for uninsured families and those in underserved areas.