SAN ANTONIO – As Texas lawmakers gear up for their upcoming session in Austin, the primary focus will be on passing a balanced budget. However, state Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, representing District 120, is pushing forward with several bills aimed at supporting families, students, and communities across the state.
This Democrat has filed multiple bills this week, each targeting significant issues affecting residents of Texas. Among these proposals, one bill aims to assist breast cancer patients in affording wigs, a necessity that many may struggle to cover after diagnosis. Gervin-Hawkins has proposed HB 250, which seeks to require insurance companies to contribute up to $100 towards the cost of wigs for patients. “You know, a woman’s hair is her pride and joy, right? And a lot of times folks can’t afford it,” she remarked. “So we have leg prostheses, we have hand prostheses. We have all of that; why not a wig?”
Another area of focus for Gervin-Hawkins is the evolving landscape of college athletics. With the recent introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements, student-athletes can profit from their own branding. However, the representative has expressed concerns about the pressures faced by young athletes. Coaches have indicated that managing these agreements is becoming increasingly complex, with agents negotiating substantial contracts with students who are still in high school. Gervin-Hawkins cautions that young athletes may not be equipped to make significant financial decisions. She suggested, “I believe some of that money needs to go into a trust fund until they either graduate college or reach a certain age, whichever comes first.”
In addition to supporting individual rights, Gervin-Hawkins is also addressing broader economic challenges faced by small towns in Texas. Her proposal, HB 187, aims to establish a grant program designed to assist municipalities struggling with economic hardships, particularly those experiencing a loss of young residents seeking opportunities elsewhere.
Concurrent to these endeavors, some lawmakers are advocating for a minimum wage increase, proposing to raise it from the current $7.25 to as much as $17. Gervin-Hawkins recognizes the necessity of supporting families amid rising living costs but cautions that such increases could impose significant burdens on small businesses.
As the legislative session begins on January 12, lawmakers will not only debate a balanced budget but also tackle broader statewide issues, including the implications of data center expansions, affordability measures, and the critical topic of public education funding. The outcomes of these discussions will undoubtedly shape the future of Texas communities and their residents.
