NTFB and Feeding Texas Urge Lawmakers to Address the Root Causes of Hunger

The State Legislature can support our neighbors facing hunger by tackling bills that support strong local food systems, housing affordability, access to health care and financial stability.

Hunger doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Food insecurity is a systemic issue that can happen to anyone and is driven by a lack of money or other resources. While it is critical to get food and resources to those who are experiencing food insecurity, we also must change the factors that create food insecurity. Encourage your legislators to act on the causes of hunger in Texas by clicking here.

That is why North Texas Food Bank is joining the Feeding Texas network, made up of 20 food banks, and the Texas Food Policy Roundtable, made up of 80-plus organizations, to tackle the key causes of hunger this legislative session. 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.  

Below are active bills that you can act on today to help us address the driving causes of hunger. 

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 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 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 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 to HB38 modernize 2-1-1  

2-1-1 is a resource that millions of Texans depend on to get connected to social services like food, housing and health care. It’s a statewide resource 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. 

We need your support on these bills to ensure that all Texans can get access to the resources they need to live full, healthy lives. Please send a message to your elected officials supporting these programs using this simple form https://secure.feedingtexas.org/a/causes-of-hunger.