HB 171

"✅ HB 171 – A Quiet Win for Addiction Recovery, With One Detail to Watch

Texas just passed HB 171, also known as the Anell Borrego Act...and for once, it's a bill that aims to strengthen support for those struggling with addiction without turning it into a criminal pipeline.

Here's what it does:
If someone is struggling with chemical dependency and ends up in court...whether as a juvenile or an adult facing misdemeanor charges...a judge can now order them into real treatment, not just jail or a slap on the wrist.

Before this bill, court-ordered treatment could be just a few days...barely enough time to stabilize someone, let alone help them. HB 171 sets a new minimum of 30 days and a max of 90 days for these commitments. It also:

Makes it easier for doctors and facility administrators to agree on when someone can be safely released early

Requires more thorough medical evaluations before committing someone

Applies to both adults and youth

Lets counties use treatment instead of jail time for low-level charges, if a certified program is available

Who benefits?
✅ People battling addiction who finally get enough time in care to make progress
✅ Judges looking for alternatives to jail
✅ Families tired of watching loved ones cycle through short, failed treatment
✅ Rural and urban Texans alike...if treatment centers are available

Who pushed for it?
The bill got support from mental health advocacy groups, probate judges, and treatment program leaders. It’s named after Anell Borrego, who tragically died after cycling through ineffective short-term commitments. Her story helped bring unlikely allies to the table.

What’s the catch?
Originally, the bill required at least 60 days of treatment...but that was quietly lowered to 30 days in the final version. That’s still better than nothing, but it raises real questions:

Will 30 days be enough for meaningful change?

Will facilities start discharging patients at 30 days just to meet the minimum?

Are rural counties with no HHSC-approved facilities going to be left out of the picture?

Why it matters long-term:
HB 171 doesn’t just tweak a statute. It reshapes how Texas treats addiction in the courtroom. It sends a message: treatment should be the first option, not jail.

But the real test? Making sure every region has access to certified programs...and making sure 30 days doesn’t become the default ceiling when people need more.

This bill gets the structure right. Now we need follow-through.

Quick ask, y’all...likes help the algorithm, but shares are what get the truth out.

If this bill affects you, your kids, your patients, your neighbors...please share it.

Too many Texans don’t know what’s being signed into law. And if we don’t share it, they won’t hear it. These bills move quietly. The consequences don’t.

It’s not about going viral. It’s about making sure the people who need to know...do know.

So if this post made you pause, think, or get fired up… don’t just like it. Send it. Share it. Say something.

✅ #HB171 #TexasPolicy #AddictionRecovery #TreatmentNotJail #StayInformed"