Love is Our Policy
I believe that restoration begins with relationship—not regulation. But today, I share out of deep concern and to draw your attention to two proposed bills that strike at the heart of what it means to honor the dignity, autonomy, and humanity of our neighbors.
House Bill 5243 and House Bill 5461 are two different bills with one harmful root: the belief that those who are struggling need more control placed over them, not more compassion shown to them.
Let me be clear—I stand in opposition to both of these bills. (Action steps at the end)
SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is the nation’s largest food assistance program—providing monthly grocery support to millions of families experiencing food insecurity. It’s not a luxury. It’s not a loophole. It’s a lifeline. And now, it’s under threat in the state of Texas.
HB 5243 – The SNAP Restrictions Bill
This bill would restrict what families can buy with SNAP benefits. On paper, it targets snacks: chips, soda, cookies, candy. But in reality, it targets people. It assumes that if someone is struggling financially, they must also be irresponsible, lazy, or in need of correction. That is not just inaccurate—it is inhumane.
I do not believe that experiencing poverty should mean a loss of personal agency.
I do not believe that children and families navigating hardship deserve public shaming disguised as policy.
I believe in informed choice, not imposed control.
I believe that respect should not be means-tested.
To regulate the food choices of families facing financial struggle in ways we would never regulate the wealthy is not just hypocritical—it is dehumanizing. These policies draw a dividing line between “us” and “them.” But, I believe there is no them. There is only us.
HB 5461 – The Truancy and SNAP Bill
If HB 5243 chips away at dignity, this one takes a wrecking ball to it.
This bill proposes removing SNAP benefits from families whose children struggle with truancy. But it fails to ask the most important question: Why?
Why might a child be missing school?
Bullying. Undiagnosed learning challenges. Transportation barriers. Unsafe environments. Mental health. Grief. Hunger. Housing insecurity. The list is long—and human.
This bill doesn't address the roots of truancy; it punishes the branches.
And worse—it punishes families by taking food off their table.
It’s not just unjust. It’s cruel.
If passed, this law would transform the State of Texas into an abusive parent—one that withholds food from a struggling family in the name of accountability. I believe in accountability too, but the kind that calls people up, not the kind that tears them down.
I also believe in holding myself and my elected officials accountable to a higher standard—one rooted in dignity, compassion, and shared responsibility.
Because in the end, love is our policy.
Not the kind that stays polite and distant, but the kind that shows up. That listens. That refuses to draw lines between who is worthy and who is not. Love votes and impacts policy. I believe every policy should do the most good—and love doesn’t ask who deserves help, it asks how to help. That’s the standard I’m holding myself to. That’s the standard I’m asking us to rise to.
Take Action
Attend this urgent community event that will provide vital information on how we can fight back against these potential cuts. Together, we can make sure our elected officials hear our concerns before it’s too late.
Event Details
Date: April 14th
Time: 6:30 - 8PM
Location: Friendship West 2020 W Wheatland Rd, Dallas, TX 75232
Why You Should Attend:
Learn about Medicaid and SNAP and the proposed cuts that could hurt Dallas families.
Share your own story and experiences—your voice is powerful! Please reach out to Amber, our storytelling coordinator, to learn more at aayala@childrensdefense.org or 832-303-9858.
Take Action by learning how to write to your representative and participate in key advocacy efforts
For HB 5243 - SNAP Restrictions
Advocacy right now is CRITICAL, since we must try to kill this bill in Committee before it reaches the House floor.
Please take the following actions immediately:
Email or call members of the House Human Service committee TODAY OR MONDAY to express your concerns about the bill. You can use the talking points in this Legislative Defense section of the 89th Session Communications Toolkit, this One Pager, or copy/past from this NEW Digital Action Form on this topic.
Share this Digital Action Form with your email lists to activate neighbors, partner agencies, donors, and other partners, especially if you have members on Human Services. We want these members to be hearing directly from their constituents that SNAP Restrictions is not a popular idea.
If you are able, please Drop a Card and/or Testify Against HB 5243 on Tuesday, April 15th at 8:00 AM. The more organizations registered opposed, the better!
If this bill passes out of Human Services, we will only have one more opportunity to stop it—in Calendars Committee. If this bill gets out of Calendars, it will surely pass the House and then become law. Please join us in the fight against SNAP restrictions TODAY!
For HB 5461 - SNAP & Truancy
HB 5461 by Kerwin is a particularly cruel bill that would strip away SNAP benefits from families that are struggling with truancy. Truancy is a complex issue, and children may be truant due to a variety of reasons—including bullying, academic challenges, family stress, or mental health concerns.
Please take the following actions immediately:
Email or call members of the House Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice (only 5 members!) sometime next week to express your concerns. The bill is being heard on Monday but probably won't be voted out the same day. Please reach out sometime next week, before the bill gets called up for a vote (likely the following Monday 4/21) to ask members to VOTE NO.
Please Drop a Card and/or Testify Against HB 5461 on Monday, April 14 at 8:00 AM. If you have contacts in the Juvenile Justice or K-12 Education spheres that you believe may care about this bill, encourage them to join in testifying against this bill.
This bill does not have a Senate companion and has not passed either chamber yet, so it is less of a threat than the SNAP restrictions bill at this time. If you only have the capacity to activate on one bill, please prioritize SNAP Restrictions.