FROM THE GOVERNOR

Abbott appoints three for The Texas School For The Deaf

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott reappointed Heather “Hex” Lightfoot and appointed Gregorio Mata and Oscar Ocuto, Ed.D. to the Governing Board of the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) for terms set to expire on Jan. 31, 2031. The board oversees the provision of all TSD services, and is responsible for budget preparation, policy adoption, and the appointment of the superintendent.

Heather “Hex” Lightfoot of Austin is a mother of three children, one of whom is DeafBlind, one of whom is Deaf, and one of whom is hearing. In addition to serving as a mother and an advocate for Deaf and DeafBlind Texans, she is a transition consultant on the Texas Deafblind Project and serves on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Deaf Children. She received a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design from Gallaudet University and has a Master of Education in special education, specializing in orientation and mobility, from Texas Tech University.

Gregorio Mata of Edinburg is an operations and data associate at Activating Change. He is a member of the Texas School for the Deaf District Advisory Committee and volunteers as a team lead for the Children’s Association for Maximum Potential. Mata received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Gallaudet University and a Master of Public Administration from Lamar University.

Oscar Ocuto, Ed.D. of Manchaca is an assistant professor of Education at Gallaudet University. He is a member of the National Association of the Deaf, American Association of University Professors, and the Gallaudet University Faculty Development Committee. Ocuto received a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and English and a Master of Arts in Deaf Education from Gallaudet University and a Doctorate of Deaf Education from Lamar University.

Abbott appoints Muth as Executive Commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott announced Stephanie Muth as the new Executive Commissioner for Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) effective Jan. 3, 2026, upon retirement of the current HHS Commissioner for a term set to expire on Feb. 1, 2027. Muth has served in various senior executive positions at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), including Chief of Staff to the Executive Commissioner, State Medicaid Director, Deputy Executive Commissioner for the Transformation Division, Deputy Executive Commissioner for the Office of Social Services, and Associate Commissioner for Consumer and External Affairs.

“Stephanie Muth is a dedicated public servant who brings over 25 years of experience working in state government and at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission,” said Governor Abbott. “Having served exceptionally as Commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Stephanie will continue to execute the critical mission of HHSC and ensure the long-term success of the state’s essential health programs. I am confident that Stephanie will lead the Commission with integrity and ensure Texans receive the high-quality care and support they need to thrive.”

Muth of Austin specializes in health and human services policy, design, and operations and is principal of Stephanie Muth Consulting, and serves as a senior fellow with Meadow’s Mental Health Policy Institute. Previously, she served as the Commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services. She worked in Texas state government for over 25 years, including in the Texas Legislature and executive branch, and held senior executive level positions at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for more than 15 years. During her career, she has modernized the Texas eligibility system and successfully overseen a large-scale reorganization of health and human service programs. As State Medicaid Director, she managed the operational and policy aspects of a healthcare delivery system that provides services to more than four million Texans. Muth received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Florida and a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

The Texas Health Care Association (THCA) issued the following statement congratulating Stephanie Muth on her appointment by Governor Greg Abbott to serve as the next Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission ( HHSC): “THCA congratulates Stephanie Muth on her appointment to lead the Health and Human Services Commission,” said Travis Clardy, President & CEO of THCA. “Commissioner- designee Muth’s institutional knowledge and decades of leadership in health and human services make her exceptionally well-prepared to guide HHSC and continue serving Texans with excellence.”

Muth brings more than 25 years of experience in Texas state government, including over 15 years in senior leadership positions at HHSC. Her previous roles within the HHSC include State Medicaid Director, Chief of Staff to the Executive Commissioner, Deputy Executive Commissioner for the Transformation Division, Deputy Executive Commissioner for the Office of Social Services, and Associate Commissioner for Consumer and External Affairs. She also recently served as Commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

THCA also expressed gratitude to retiring Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young for her years of partnership and dedicated service to Texans.

“We sincerely thank Commissioner Cecile Erwin Young for her steadfast leadership and collaboration over the years,” Clardy added. “We also look forward to working with Commissioner Muth as she brings her experience and vision to strengthen access, enhance quality, and support the providers who care for Texas’s most vulnerable residents.”

Abbott issued the following statement on the retirement of Cecile Erwin Young as Executive Commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services (HHS), effective Jan. 2, 2026.

“Commissioner Young served Texas selflessly for almost four decades, and her lifelong dedication to improving the health and well-being of Texans is unmatched,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “Throughout her leadership at Texas Health and Human Services and her career as a public servant, she demonstrated her commitment to excellence and integrity, and remained focused on caring for Texans and helping them thrive. She leaves a remarkable legacy. I thank her for her exceptional service to the State of Texas and to generations of Texans.”

“I’m grateful to Governor Abbott for entrusting me to serve in this important role. It has truly been the highlight of my career,” said Commissioner Young. “This agency impacts every Texan, and I have been honored to serve the people of this state alongside our dedicated staff.”

Commissioner Young’s leadership was instrumental to help stabilize the system’s operations and workforce, increase transparency, and reform the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) regulatory framework. Under Young’s stewardship, HHSC secured a 10-year federal Medicaid 1115 Transformation Waiver extension and bolstered the state’s health care safety net through the redesign of the state’s directed and supplemental payment programs.

Additionally, Commissioner Young overhauled the Medicaid managed care procurement process, implemented numerous maternal health improvements, directed the development of the agency’s first artificial intelligence policy, and oversaw the expansion, renovation, and construction of 11 state psychiatric hospitals.