“What is Texas v. Kennedy (2026)? Why Does it Matter?
Texas v. Kennedy (previously Texas v. Becerra) is a court case in Texas that was filed in Texas in September 2024. A group of 17 states sued the United States government. The 17 states were Texas, Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia.
The complaint asked the court to get rid of Section 504 and its updated rules from 2024 that protect people with disabilities from discrimination in health care and human services. The case changed over time, in part due to the 2024 election and subsequent steps by the Trump Administration, and in part due to the advocacy of the disability community.
On January 25, 2026, nine states – Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, South Dakota, and Texas – filed a new complaint, Texas v. Kennedy (2026). The nine states renewed their attack on Section 504 and the right to live in the community.
- The nine states say that a rule about the integration mandate published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is unlawful and unconstitutional.
- The nine states are asking the federal court to block the rule about integration and all of the Section 504 regulations that were updated in 2024.”