FEATURED: Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo/Starr County, addresses a reception held at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) in Laredo on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 to announce the 2025 recipients the Senator Judith Zaffirini Teachers’ College Student Loan Debt Grant Program. The program honors Zaffirini and supports Laredo educators, with 2025 honorees including representatives from TAMIU, Laredo College, United Independent School District, and Laredo Independent School District.
Photograph Courtesy TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
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Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo/Starr County, recently named a 2025 Legislative Champion by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
By ARTURO OLIVAREZ
Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo/Starr County, was recently named a 2025 Legislative Champion by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, which is a state agency led by a 27-member board – appointed by the governor – that includes people with developmental disabilities, family members, and representatives from state agencies, university centers for excellence in developmental disabilities, and other organizations.
https://tcdd.texas.gov/about-us/council-members-directory/
She is one of 11 honorees named on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
The recognition honors her work during the 89th Texas Legislature, which took place from Tuesday, January 14, 2025 through Sunday, June 2, 2025, to support Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) are a group of chronic, often lifelong conditions originating before age 22 that impair physical, learning, language, or adaptive functioning. They result from mental or physical impairments—such as Down syndrome, autism, or cerebral palsy—affecting daily life, requiring support with self-care, communication, and independence.
“Thanks to the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities for this recognition,” said Zaffirini, who is the first woman to become Dean of the Texas Senate. “Supporting persons with disabilities has been, and will continue to be, one of my highest legislative priorities.”
Since December 31, 2023, Zaffirini has served as the Dean of the Texas Senate, and in that capacity, she acts as the chamber’s senior member, guardian of tradition, and presiding officer during specific caucus meetings.
Zaffirini’s disability-related legislation recognized by the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities includes Senate Bill 57, of which she was the author, and sponsored by Rep. Mary González, D-San Elizario, which requires school emergency plans to account for students with disabilities; and Senate Bill 66, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, which allows persons with supportive decision-making agreements to use a supporter, at their own expense, in criminal and civil legal proceedings.
A bill is a type of legislative measure that requires passage by the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives and action by the governor in order to become effective. A bill is the primary means used to create and change the laws of the state.
In the Texas Senate, the author is the senator who files a bill, introducing it into the legislative process and taking primary responsibility for guiding it through committee and debate.
“Files” is used to refer to a measure that has been introduced into the legislative process and given a number.
In the Texas House of Representatives, a sponsor is the legislator responsible for guiding a bill or resolution through the legislative process, particularly in the chamber opposite to where it was filed. They act as the primary advocate to move the legislation forward.
She also was the Senate sponsor of House Bill 1041 by Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington, which prohibits paid caregivers from being named life insurance beneficiaries for persons under their care unless related by blood, adoption or marriage; and House Bill 1188 by Rep. Christian Manuel, D-Nederland, which requires schools to inform parents of students with intellectual or developmental disabilities about services offered by their Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority.
In the Texas Senate, a sponsor is the legislator responsible for guiding a bill or resolution through the legislative process, particularly in the chamber opposite to where it was filed. They act as the primary advocate to move the legislation forward.
“Persons with intellectual disabilities have been my priority since I was the 15-year-old president of Laredo’s All-City Student Council,” the Zaffirini said. “Fermín de la Garza, president of a parents organization, asked me then to raise money for their educational programs. I organized fundraisers at local junior high and high schools citywide. They captured my heart, and I have carried their banner since, not only in the Legislature, but also working as their volunteer teacher and raising funds for them through the Laredo High Hope Volunteers.”
She added that as a 5-year-old first grader at St. Peter’s Elementary School she joined the March of Dimes in response to schoolmates who had polio: “My passion for helping persons with disabilities is a lifelong understanding of their critical needs.”
Zaffirini passed a record-breaking 135 bills in the 89th Texas Legislature’s Regular Session, making her the highest bill-passing legislator for six consecutive sessions. She also holds a state and national record of having cast 76,843 consecutive votes and passing 1,524 bills, making her the highest bill-passer in the history of the State of Texas.
A communication specialist, businesswoman and former educator, she has won more than 1,300 awards and honors for her legislative, professional and civic accomplishments, including more than 600 state and national awards in communication.
Zaffirini is the namesake of a courthouse in Webb County, student success center and medal for leadership and scholarship at Texas A&M International University, library at Laredo College, elementary school at United ISD, park and soccer mini-pitch in Laredo, road at Lake Casa Blanca International State Park, hospital suite in Austin and several endowed scholarships and grants. She is featured in 25 books and referenced in 22.
According to the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, the following state 11 lawmakers were named Legislative Champions for their work on measures to improve inclusion, remove barriers, and promote an increased quality of life for Texans with intellectual and developmental disabilities:
• Rep. Alma Allen, D-Houstonhas been particularly active on school discipline issues and filed legislation that would have cracked down on school-initiated undocumented early pick-ups. She also filed a bill that would have required public school social studies curricula to include instruction on the history of people with disabilities.
• Rep. John Bucy III, D-Austin, authored and passed a bill establishing the Building Better Futures Program to increase postsecondary educational opportunities for students with IDD. He also filed legislation on topics such as student discipline and voting accessibility.
• Rep. Mary González, D-El Paso, authored numerous pieces of disability-related legislation, including inclusive child care and a co-navigator services program for individuals who are deaf-blind. She also sponsored successful bills on emergency preparedness for students with disabilities and a report on enrollment and success of postsecondary students with disabilities.
• Rep. Ana Hernández, D-Houston, filed two bills that came directly from interactions with TCDD: one that would have made fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) a qualifying condition for special education services, and another that would have phased out the use of 14c waivers in Texas, eliminating the payment of subminimum wage to workers with disabilities. She also filed legislation related to interactions between law enforcement and people with disabilities during vehicular stops.
• Rep. Suleman Lalani, MD, D-Sugar Land, authored a variety of disability-related bills, including a measure that would have established a base wage of $15 per hour for community attendants and one that would have created an advisory committee regarding services for individuals with IDD. He also authored a bill that would have allowed school districts to develop policies to address eloping behavior by students with autism or IDD.
• Rep. Christian Manuel, D-Nederland, authored successful legislation that now requires schools to refer special education students to a local intellectual and developmental disability authority (LIDDA) for additional services and public benefits.
• Rep. Claudia Ordaz, D-El Paso, was the author of legislation that requires the development of a strategic plan for the improvement and expansion of early learning and educational opportunities for young children with disabilities. The bill was developed in close collaboration with Texans Care for Children and TCDD staff; her office was helpful and responsive throughout the process.
• Rep. Toni Rose, D-Dallas,authored legislation that would have established a statewide IDD Coordinating Committee, as well as a bill relating to the prohibition of the use of the death penalty against those with severe mental illness.
• Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio,authored successful legislation requiring a report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding enrollment and success in higher education for students with disabilities. He was the Senate sponsor of the bill establishing the Building Better Futures Program. He also filed a number of other disability-related bills, including a proposal on transportation accessibility and a measure that would have directed the Texas Education Agency to adopt standards relating to the use of assistive technology as needed for individualized special education programs and 504 plans.
• Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, was the Senate sponsor for the legislation requiringthe development of a strategic plan for the improvement and expansion of early learning and educational opportunities for young children with disabilities. He authored a measure that would have required the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to develop and implement reentry and reintegration plans for offenders with intellectual disabilities. Another of his bills would have required the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s executive council membership to include a parent or guardian of a child who is a Medicaid recipient, including a recipient of services under a Medicaid waiver program.
• Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo/Starr County,authored numerous disability-related proposals, including legislation to better ensure public schools have safety plans and accommodations for students with disabilities during safety drills and disasters or emergencies. She authored a bill requiring a study on authorizing supported decision-making agreements to include assistance in legal proceedings.
She also served as the Senate sponsor of the LIDDA referral bill and a measure that bans paid caregivers from serving as life insurance beneficiaries for those under their care.
Five of the 2025 honorees — Reps. Allen, González, Rose; Menéndez and Zaffirini — were recognized by the Council in previous legislative sessions.
The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities serves as a resource to offices on the issues faced by Texans with developmental disabilities and how legislation might impact them.
Texas lawmakers convene for legislative sessions every two years.
The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities monitors legislative activities that could impact disability-related programs and services. To learn more about legislation and disability issues, visit our website. Stay up to date on disability policymaking activity by connecting with the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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David A. Díaz contributed to this article. For more on this and other Texas legislative news stories that affect the Rio Grande Valley metropolitan region, please log on to Titans of the Texas Legislature (TitansoftheTexasLegislature.com).
