Legislation
Pass priority law
Secure Texas statute or administrative rules that put eligible foster youth first for surplus state fleet vehicles — following the Louisiana HB 575 model.
Reliable transportation is a practical foundation for life after care. This campaign advances a Texas program — based on Louisiana House Bill 575 — that gives foster youth priority status when surplus state vehicles become available.
The opportunity
Policy. Process. Pathways.
Surplus fleet
Use public assets
State agencies already retire and redistribute vehicles. Priority for foster youth turns an existing public inventory into a second-chance tool for independence.
Youth outcome
Keys to independence
Eligible youth get a real pathway to safe, reliable transportation for college, work, medical appointments, and aging out of care successfully.
Join the campaign
Help bring surplus vehicle priority to Texas
Louisiana HB 575 showed that surplus fleets can serve foster youth first. AFF is organizing advocacy, research, and partner outreach so Texas youth get the same practical chance at mobility.
Model legislation
Based on Louisiana HB 575
Louisiana House Bill 575 (2026 Regular Session) establishes a priority status for the acquisition of surplus state vehicles for youths participating in the extended foster care program.
- Creates a first-priority preference for extended foster care participants when surplus state vehicles are available for purchase or acquisition.
- Uses existing public property systems — not a brand-new vehicle giveaway program from scratch.
- Gives Texas a proven template: pass law, define eligibility, coordinate surplus and child-welfare agencies, connect youth to the process.
How the process would work
From surplus lot to youth driveway
Exact rules would be set in Texas law and agency procedure. Below is the operational model AFF is advocating for — adapted from Louisiana’s surplus-vehicle priority approach.
1
Authorize priority in law
Texas enacts legislation (or adopts equivalent rules) establishing priority preference for eligible foster youth — including those in extended foster care or aging-out pathways — when surplus state vehicles are offered for sale or transfer. This is the HB 575-style foundation.
2
Identify surplus vehicles
Agency fleet offices declare vehicles surplus when no longer needed. In Texas, the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) administers the State Surplus Property Program, which receives, tracks, and disposes of those surplus vehicles (including through the State Surplus Store and public listings). Vehicles must meet safety and roadworthiness standards before they enter a foster youth priority pathway. Inventory should be public-facing so eligible youth and advocates know what is available.
3
Verify youth eligibility
Child welfare confirms the applicant meets eligibility (e.g., extended foster care participation, age, and residency as defined in the Texas program). Caseworkers and transition specialists help youth gather documentation without adding unnecessary barriers.
4
Priority claim & purchase or transfer
Eligible youth (or an approved supporting entity where allowed) exercise priority preference ahead of general surplus buyers. Terms for price, payment, title, and registration follow state surplus rules — designed so the path is affordable and usable for youth without family co-signers.
5
Title, insurance & onboarding
Youth complete title/registration steps, obtain required insurance, and receive practical orientation (maintenance basics, safe driving expectations, and where to get help). Partners can support wraparound needs so the vehicle stays an asset, not a crisis.
6
Track outcomes & improve
Agencies and advocates track how many vehicles reach foster youth, time-to-delivery, and barriers that still block access. Data informs annual improvements — just as other foster youth programs refine eligibility and outreach over time.
Why this campaign exists
Transportation is opportunity
School & training
Classes, internships, and campuses are hard to reach without reliable transit — especially outside dense urban cores.
Work
Shift jobs, early hours, and multi-site work often require a car. Missing transportation can mean missing paychecks.
Independence
Housing, medical care, and court or family obligations all depend on getting there — on time and safely.
This page describes AFF’s proposed Texas approach based on Louisiana House Bill 575 and publicly described surplus-vehicle priority concepts. Final agency names, eligibility, pricing, and procedures would be defined by Texas law and implementing agencies. Program details may evolve with legislation and capacity.