🟩Relating to training on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and related disorders for certain guardians

HB 3376

✅ HB 3376: Free Guardian Training for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care

What it says it does:
Requires guardians of elderly Texans or adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia to complete a free, one-hour online training every year. The course covers communication, symptom awareness, and protecting the rights of people under guardianship.

What it actually changes:
Puts the Texas Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch Certification Commission in charge of developing, enforcing, and tracking these trainings. Probate courts must verify completion before or after appointments, though judges can waive the requirement in specific cases.

Who is pushing for it:
Supporters in the files include the Alzheimer’s Association, AARP Texas, Methodist Healthcare Ministries, the Office of Court Administration, and probate judges across Texas. These are advocacy and oversight groups, not private vendors.

Who benefits:
Families who serve as guardians get access to no-cost, accessible training. Texans living with Alzheimer’s and dementia gain guardians who are better prepared to protect their rights and dignity.

Who gets left out or exposed:
Counties with limited court capacity could see uneven enforcement. Judges have discretion to waive the rule, which could leave some wards without trained guardians depending on how that discretion is applied.

Why this matters long term:
Texas is aging fast, and more families are stepping into guardianship roles without guidance. This bill builds statewide consistency, strengthens accountability, and helps prevent neglect or misuse of authority in guardianship cases.

What to watch next:
Whether the Supreme Court’s rules limit or expand the waiver option, and whether training completion data is ever made public. The promise of consistency only holds if compliance is transparent.

Bottom line:
HB 3376 strengthens guardianship without adding cost, privatization, or red tape. It gives families tools to do right by loved ones and keeps the state’s role focused on oversight, not profit.

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