Texas House approves $70 million boost for Thriving Texas Families Program

In a tense and marathon budget debate Thursday night, the Texas House approved a $70 million funding increase for the Thriving Texas Families (TTF) program — formerly known as Alternatives to Abortion — as part of the state’s massive $337 billion appropriations package for the 2026–2027 biennium.

The amendment, authored by Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress), reallocates Medicaid funds to bolster TTF, which offers pregnancy-related counseling, parenting support, adoption services, and referrals through a network of pregnancy resource centers. Oliverson’s amendment passed by a 90-56 vote, with a handful of Democrats joining Republicans to support the measure.

"I'm incredibly excited that we were able to increase funding to thrive in Texas families by $70 million over the next biennium," Oliverson said after the vote. “It’s a tremendously valuable program. It's done great work, and the need is there.”

The final funding amount was reached after Rep. Caroline Harris-Davila (R-Round Rock) successfully added an amendment — with Oliverson’s approval — increasing the yearly allocation from $20 million to $35 million. Her proposal passed 95-52.

Supporters praised the program as a critical lifeline for mothers and families, especially in the wake of Texas’ strict abortion laws. “This past year over 150,000 clients were served through this program,” said Ashley Leenerts, legislative director at Texas Right to Life. “These are real services helping real women.”

However, the debate surrounding the amendments was anything but unanimous. Critics questioned both the transparency and accountability of the TTF program, as well as its potential impact on core Medicaid services. Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg) pressed Oliverson for specifics on the services provided and the locations receiving funding, expressing skepticism about how taxpayer money would be spent.

Rep. Lulu Flores (D-Austin) went further, calling the lack of detailed oversight “pretty shameful.”

“Why are you allowing these providers to stay with such vague information when you're giving them so much money?” she asked during a heated exchange.

Oliverson defended the program by citing the statute that governs TTF’s activities and reaffirmed that Medicaid's core functions would remain untouched. He explained that any diverted Medicaid funds would be reimbursed through supplemental appropriations, as Medicaid is an entitlement program that the state is legally obligated to fund.

Still, the vote sparked immediate backlash from Democratic leaders. The Texas House Democratic Caucus posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, condemning the amendment: “Shameful: Texas Republicans just agreed to give away $70 MILLION per year to unaccountable anti-abortion clinics — and the sponsor of the bill couldn't even name a single provider, person, or physical location which would benefit.”

Despite the backlash, the amendment garnered bipartisan support from three Democratic lawmakers: Reps. Eddie Morales (D-Eagle Pass), Claudia Ordaz (D-El Paso), and Richard Raymond (D-Laredo), who broke ranks with their party to vote in favor.