Texas Lawmakers Can Act on Key Legislation to Address Causes of Hunger
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For Immediate Release: 04/16/25
Contact: Wesley Story
Hunger doesn’t happen in a vacuum – tackling its causes can lead to long term change.
TEXAS – The Feeding Texas network of food banks and more than 80 organizations in the Texas Food Policy Roundtable (TFPR) are committed to tackling causes of hunger this legislative session. Today, we are urging Texas lawmakers to take action on key legislation that would either strengthen our local food systems, increase healthcare access, ensure housing affordability, or improve financial security for Texans.
“Hunger doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, the state association of food banks. “Food insecurity is a systemic issue that can affect anyone and is driven by factors like expensive housing and low wage jobs. Even people with steady income can experience temporary setbacks that lead to food insecurity, including medical emergencies or unexpected job losses.”
The Feeding Texas network and TFPR are calling on legislators to:
- Vote NO on HB 32 / SB 38 to protect Texas tenant rights
Supporting strong tenant protections can alleviate financial strains for families in Texas – allowing families to spend on essential needs like food without sacrificing their nutrition for housing.
This evictions bill would impact all lease-holding renters. If passed, this bill would drastically change the eviction process in Texas and weaken tenants’ rights. It would deprive tenants of a right to a hearing, collapse eviction timelines and loosen notification requirements, and eliminate Notices to Vacate (NTV) in cases that are not for non-payment of rent. - Vote YES on HB 520 / SB 541 to support small food businesses
Strong local food systems are critical to reducing hunger because it directly connects communities with their food sources – making fresh, nutritious food more accessible to everyone.
This Cottage Food bill would strengthen Texans’ ability to run their own small food businesses. It would raise the sales cap of these businesses, protect their safety by replacing home businesses, allow sales through a contracted vendor, and expand the allowed refrigerated baked goods. - Vote YES on HB 880 / SB 1000 to remove medical debt from consumer reports
When families face financial hardships, they are often forced to make tough choices, like taking on medical debt so they can put food on the table.
This bill aims to lessen the burden of medically necessary debt by preventing that information from being included on consumer reports. It would ensure that Texans don’t need to worry about how medical debt would impact their credit scores, future employment, or housing options. - Vote YES on HB 321 / SB 238 to help eligible children get health insurance
The Texas uninsured rate for children is 11.9%, more than twice the national rate of 5.4%. However, almost half of these uninsured children are actually eligible for Medicaid or CHIP but are not enrolled.
This “parent notification” bill makes it easier for eligible children to receive the health insurance they need through Express Lane Eligibility. It would require the state to notify families who are applying for public assistance programs like SNAP when their children are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP. - Vote YES on HB38 to modernize 2-1-1
2-1-1 is a resource that millions of Texans depend on to get connected to resources for food, housing and health care. It’s a statewide service that’s available for any Texan looking to learn about state and local health and human services programs.
This bill would modernize 2-1-1 by implementing texting capabilities, enhancing screening and navigation, improving integration with state agencies, and increasing data transparency.
From getting more eligible kids on health insurance to supporting small local food businesses, action on these bills can help us target the factors leading to food insecurity in our communities. To address these issues, we need practical solutions that strengthen financial security for families and the food systems that support our communities.
“When families face financial hardships, they are often forced to make tough choices, like prioritizing housing over groceries,” Cole said. “No Texan should be forced to make the impossible choice between food and other critical needs. While it is essential to get food and resources to those who are experiencing food insecurity, we also must tackle the factors that create food insecurity. Whether it’s helping Texans secure stable housing, strengthening food systems, or addressing high health care costs, we know these are critical steps to ending hunger in Texas.”
At Feeding Texas, we seek to provide food for today, tomorrow, and for a lifetime. This mission requires us to go beyond short-term solutions and to address the causes of hunger, which can lead to long-term change.
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Feeding Texas is a network of 20 food banks and leads a unified effort for a hunger-free Texas. Learn more and find your local food bank at feedingtexas.org.
