Policies
Topic list
89th Texas Legislature Regular Session Wrap-Up
SUMMARY – The 89th Texas Legislature marked a decade of bipartisan commitment to mental health at the Texas Capitol, leveraging both budget and legislative initiatives to expand mental health access, address workforce challenges, and...
Senate Health and Human Services Committee
SUMMARY—On September 18, 2024, Andy Keller, the president and CEO of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, provided invited testimony before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety
SUMMARY - On July 31, Andy Keller, the president and CEO of the Meadows Mental Health Public Policy Institute, provided invited testimony before the House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety, highlighting the...
State Hospital Redesign & Inpatient Capacity Expansion: 2017-2025
SUMMARY - Since 2016, the Texas Legislature has invested over $3.6 billion toward developing a modernized state hospital system, informed by data-driven policy guidance provided by the Meadows Institute.
88th Texas Legislature Regular Session Wrap-Up
SUMMARY – The 88th Legislature delivered a record $11.68 billion for behavioral health, an increase of more than 30% from the previous session. Senator Joan Huffman, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, called it...
Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety – HB 1537
SUMMARY - On April 17, Chief Medical Officer Roshni Koli, MD, provided invited testimony before the House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety in support of House Bill 1537. HB 1537, by Representative...
Texas House Committee on Human Services – HB 1571
SUMMARY - On March 28, Chief Clinical Officer Hani Talebi, PhD, provided invited testimony before the House Committee on Human Services in support of HB 1571. HB 1571, by Representative J.M. Lozano, would allow...
Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety – HB 2638
SUMMARY – On March 27, Deputy Director of The Hackett Center Marcy Melvin provided invited testimony before the House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety in support of HB 2638. HB 2638, by...
Senate Health & Human Services Committee – SB 26
SUMMARY - On March 22, Meadows Institute President & CEO Andy Keller, PhD, provided invited testimony before the Senate Health & Human Services Committee in favor of SB 26. SB 26, by Senator Lois...
Texas House Committee on Higher Education – The Mental Health & Brain Research Institute of Texas
SUMMARY – On March 20, President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, provided invited testimony before the Texas House Higher Education Committee on the importance of legislation to create the Mental Health and Brain Research...
Texas House Appropriations Committee
SUMMARY - On February 15, President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, provided invited testimony before the Texas House Appropriations Committee in a hearing on behavioral health funding for the 2024-25 biennium.
Texas Senate Finance Committee
SUMMARY – On June 28, President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, provided invited testimony before the Senate Finance Committee as the committee reviewed opportunities for additional mental health investments in advance of the 88th...
Texas Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans
SUMMARY – On June 22, President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, provided invited testimony before the Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans in the wake of the tragic school shooting in Uvalde.
House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety
SUMMARY - During his invited testimony, President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, discussed the dramatic increase in mental health needs and pediatric ER visits resulting from suicide attempts and answered questions from committee members.
87th Texas Legislature Regular Session Wrap-Up
SUMMARY - Throughout what was a challenging and, at times, divisive legislative session, one area of full agreement among state leaders was that mental health continues to be paramount to Texas’ present and future.
U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
SUMMARY - During his invited testimony, President and CEO Andy Keller, PhD, discussed the mental health impacts of COVID-19 and how lessons learned in Texas can be used nationally to address mental health and...
Texas House Committee on County Affairs – Mental Health Landscape & COVID-19
SUMMARY – Meadows Institute CEO Andy Keller, PhD, was invited to testify before the committee on the mental health impacts of COVID-19.
Texas Senate Committee on Health & Human Services – SB 672
SUMMARY - Meadows Institute CEO Andy Keller, PhD, was invited testimony before the committee on SB 672. Senate Bill 672, relating to Medicaid coverage of certain collaborative care management services, was authored by...
Texas House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Article II
SUMMARY – On March 4, 2021, Andy Keller, PhD, President and CEO of the Meadows Institute, was invited testimony at the Texas House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Article II. During his presentation, Dr. Keller...
Texas Senate Committee on Health & Human Services – Mental Health Impact of COVID-19
SUMMARY – On December 8, 2020, Andy Keller, PhD, President and CEO of the Meadows Institute, was invited testimony at the Texas Senate Committee on Health & Human Services. During his presentation, Dr. Keller...