Governor Greg Abbott attended the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH) fall conference in Austin, where he signed House Bill 18 and House Bill 3000 into law. These measures are aimed at improving healthcare services in rural areas of Texas.
“The hardworking people in rural Texas provide the food, fuel, and fiber that all Texans depend on,” said Governor Abbott. “It is essential that we do more for rural Texas and rural healthcare. That is why we made one of the largest investments ever for mental health hospitals and facilities to cover the entire Panhandle and the Uvalde community. This funding will make Texas more efficient in delivering preventative healthcare. Here today, together through House Bill 18 and House Bill 3000, we are dramatically improving healthcare in rural Texas.”
The event was attended by over 350 healthcare leaders and advocates for rural communities. During his remarks, Governor Abbott referenced a recent roundtable discussion with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as well as stakeholders from across Texas, focusing on initiatives to support rural healthcare delivery.
Governor Abbott also credited investments from both the Trump Administration and the Texas Legislature with increasing access to healthcare resources in rural communities throughout the state. He expressed gratitude to those working in these areas for their contributions to the state’s economy.
Joining Governor Abbott at the event were Senator Charles Perry, Representative Ken King, Representative Gary VanDeaver, TORCH Chair Lorenzo Serrano, TORCH Interim CEO Terry Scoggin, among other leaders from the healthcare sector.
House Bill 18—referred to as the Rural Health Stabilization and Innovation Act—provides strategic planning efforts and funding designed to ensure that rural hospitals and clinics remain sustainable.
House Bill 3000 creates a grant program managed by the Comptroller’s office that offers financial support to ambulance providers operating within rural counties.
Additional photographs from this event are expected to be released soon.
