2025 · Regular session · House bill
HB3096
HB3096 designates March 17 each year as Profound Autism Awareness Day in Texas.
Official caption: Relating to designating March 17 as Profound Autism Awareness Day.
Official report lists House author(s): Cunningham. This does not identify sponsors or amendment drafters.
Bill explanation published · Version and amendment review scope is stated below · Individual amendment records may not be separately annotated.
Bill highlights
Selected points from the published explanation. Follow each point to its source-linked context; conditions and limits may matter.
- HB3096 designates March 17 each year as Profound Autism Awareness Day in Texas.
- The Legislature's stated purpose is to draw attention to people who often need continuous adult care, may have significant intellectual or communication disabilities, and may be left out of research or support programs.
- The governor signed May 24, 2025, and the law took effect September 1, 2025.
What does it do?
HB3096 designates March 17 each year as Profound Autism Awareness Day in Texas. It permits appropriate ceremonies and activities, including showing support and sharing information about resources for people with profound autism and their caregivers. Observances are optional, not a new required event for every school, employer or agency. Final law.
The Legislature’s stated purpose is to draw attention to people who often need continuous adult care, may have significant intellectual or communication disabilities, and may be left out of research or support programs. The act is an awareness designation, not a diagnostic standard or a new entitlement to therapy, benefits, research participation or caregiver funding. It does not create a paid day off or require offices to close.
The governor signed May 24, 2025, and the law took effect September 1, 2025. The first March 17 after that effective date was in 2026. Official history.
What changed along the way?
The filed bill said the day “shall regularly be observed.” The House committee substitute changed that to “may be regularly observed.” The date and descriptive purpose stayed the same.
That permissive wording remained in the House-passed, Senate and final versions. The amendment index lists no separate floor amendments. All versions.
For the full amendment record, open the official amendment index.
Official bill versions
Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.
Who could benefit—and who could bear the costs?
People with substantial support needs, their families, caregivers and organizations serving them gain a recognized occasion to share information and advocate for support. Anyone choosing to organize an activity may incur time or expenses. The designation itself does not ensure additional services or funding.
The May 5 fiscal note anticipates no significant state or local-government fiscal impact, assuming implementation costs can be absorbed using existing resources. The act makes no appropriation and does not quantify the effects of awareness activities.
Official sources
- Bill history and latest recorded action
- Bill versions, analyses and fiscal notes
- Action history and votes
- Amendment index
Catalog report retrieved 2026-10-25. Check the official record for corrections or later changes.
