The Texas state capitol.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed into law a bipartisan bill to dedicate a staggering sum of state funds toward the prevention of brain disease: $3 billion over 10 years.
While this is a historic achievement, the work is not done. To unlock the largest state investment in neurodegenerative disease research in United States history, Texans must vote in favor of it.
The Path to Billions for Breakthrough Research
The landmark bill’s path to becoming official has to clear three major legislative hurdles. First, in April Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 5 with broad bipartisan support. A priority of Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R), the bill was sponsored in the legislature by Senator Joan Huffman (R-17) and Representative Tom Craddick (R-82) with additional support from Representative Senfronia Thompson (D-141).
Second, the bill required the governor’s signature, which happened May 24, 2025. Now, Senate Bill 5 moves on to the last part of the process: a voter referendum during the state’s elections this November. A vote in favor will greenlight the creation of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and fund it at $300 million each year for 10 years.
The goal of the new state institute is to grant funding for research projects to advance the prevention of dementia and related diseases including Parkinson’s.
Collaborative Advocacy Secures Parkinson’s Inclusion in Senate Bill 5
The bill, first introduced in February 2025, was initially limited to dementia research. The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) led a multi-faceted, patient-centric campaign to successfully persuade the Texas legislature to include Parkinson’s disease in the bill. This effort included partnering with local patients and organizations in Texas to deliver in-person testimony, share personal stories and lobby state lawmakers directly.
Adding Parkinson’s disease to the bill language ensures that Parkinson’s research projects will be eligible for grant funding through the new institute.
MJFF’s pitch was successful in part because we were able to highlight the biological overlap between Parkinson’s and other brain diseases. Research has increasingly revealed that many neurodegenerative diseases are caused by the same dysfunction in brain and body cells — which means that a breakthrough for one disease could mean progress for others.
“This bill presents an opportunity to put Texas at the forefront of neurodegenerative disease research,” said Julia Pitcher, MJFF’s director of state government relations. “Establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is a historic step, and it was imperative that Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders be included in this effort.”
“Establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is a historic step, and it was imperative that Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders be included in this effort.”
Texas-based legislative consultants and local members of the MJFF-led Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council like the Houston Area Parkinson Society and Dallas Area Parkinson Society also played a critical role in helping legislators understand and act on the inclusion of Parkinson’s in the bill.
Building State-by-State Momentum for Research Funding
This progress in Texas is part of a core policy objective at MJFF: to vastly scale state and federal government investment in Parkinson’s disease research. We’ve made huge leaps in our advocacy for state funding in recent years. In 2024, we participated in a successful bipartisan campaign in Pennsylvania that resulted in the first-ever $3 million state investment for neurodegenerative disease research.
We built on this win by replicating the effort to pursue research funding in more states this year including California, Connecticut and Florida. Bills in these states are still moving through the legislative process. We also returned to Pennsylvania, where Governor Josh Shapiro (D) has included another $5 million for in-state research grants in his budget proposal.
Check out our 2025 policy priorities for state and federal governments to learn more. Sign up for our Parkinson’s Policy Network for opportunities to advocate in Texas and in states across the country.
What’s Next?
Texans can expect to see the proposal — a constitutional amendment — on their ballots this November. If approved, state leaders will appoint a committee to oversee the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas by December 31, 2025. In early 2026, the committee will hire a chief executive officer, set its grant funding priorities and develop the award process.
Per Senate Bill 5, spending on infrastructure would be capped at just 5 percent of the total grant funding to allow the Institute to invest in the scientists and research teams doing the work that matters most. MJFF looks forward to offering our support to help Texas officials leverage the existing Parkinson’s research landscape in the state.