Texas is about to receive potentially more than $10 billion in federal reimbursement with the passage of President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill — funds specifically intended to reimburse the State of Texas for border security efforts under Operation Lone Star. We have a rare opportunity to use this money to do something meaningful for those who helped keep our communities and our state safe.
Governor Greg Abbott has called the Legislature to reconvene in Special Session on July 21. I’ve asked him to add to his call and prioritize some of this money for a much-needed cost of living adjustment (COLA) or 13th check for retired state troopers and retired DPS employees.
These are the men and women who spent their careers protecting Texans — often under extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances. Many of them even served on the front lines of border enforcement, apprehending dangerous cartel members and traffickers. They didn’t hesitate when the state asked them to step up. And now, too many of them are struggling to make ends meet in retirement.
The reality is that most DPS retirees haven’t received a real cost-of-living adjustment in over 20 years. Healthcare and every day expenses have skyrocketed since then, and they urgently need help from the state they served.
Earlier this year, the Texas House overwhelmingly passed HB 886 by Rep. Cody Vasut to provide a one-time 13th check to retirees. It had strong bipartisan support, but the Senate didn’t act on it, and the bill died when the session ended.
Vasut’s bill carried a $180 million fiscal note, a drop in the bucket compared to the roughly $10 billion that the state is estimated to receive from the Big Beautiful Bill. This is funding that exists because of the work our state troopers did on the border, and we now have a second chance to take a small portion of that sum to support our retirees.
This isn’t about politics — it’s about priorities. It’s about keeping a promise to the men and women who dedicated their lives to keeping Texas safe. Thanks to incoming federal dollars, we can easily afford to support the very people who carried out that mission.
Let’s use this moment to do what’s right. Let’s honor their service — not just with words, but with action.
Only Governor Abbott has the authority to determine what goes on the Special Session agenda. We are extremely grateful for his unwavering support of law enforcement every single day, and we respectfully urge him to help our retirees by adding a supplemental payment to the call.
With the governor’s leadership, I believe the House and Senate will get it done.
Rohnnie Shaw is the executive director for the Texas State Troopers Association (TSTA)