The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is currently under review by the Sunset Advisory Commission. Most state agencies go through this process every 12 years.

Every state agency has an automatic end date set into state law. Unless the Legislature passes a bill to continue it - typically another 12 years - the agency will be abolished on that date. This process allows lawmakers to regularly examine an agency's mission, priorities, and performance.

DSHS is under review by the Sunset Commission from September 2025 through December 2026. Lawmakers will review the Commission’s report beginning in January 2027.  Visit the Sunset Advisory Commission’s website for more information.

The Sunset Advisory Commission is reviewing the mission and performance of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and welcomes comments from the public on whether the agency is still needed, the agency’s performance in fulfilling its mission, and ideas to improve DSHS’ operations and services.

The Texas Sunset Act requires the Sunset Commission to periodically review DSHS and recommend whether to continue the agency, implement Sunset staff’s recommendations to improve agency efficiency and effectiveness (Sunset management directives), or change state law to improve the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness. The Legislature ultimately will decide whether to continue DSHS or adopt the Sunset Commission’s other statutory recommendations.

The Sunset process has three stages. First, Sunset staff will evaluate DSHS, seek public input, and issue a report recommending solutions to problems found. Second, the Sunset Commission will hold two public meetings: a hearing on the staff report and the agency, and a decision meeting to adopt recommendations based on the report and public comments. Third, the Legislature will convene in January 2027 and will consider the Sunset Commission’s adopted statutory recommendations in a Sunset bill for DSHS.

Submit Your Input

Here are several ways to provide comments and suggestions to Sunset staff on DSHS’ mission, operations, and services:

• Send an email to sunset@sunset.texas.gov, with DSHS Review in the subject line,
• Submit comments online,
• Send a letter to Sunset Advisory Commission, Attn: DSHS, P.O. Box 13066, Austin, Texas 78711, or
• Call (512) 463-1300 to speak to Katherina Wierschke, project manager of the DSHS review.

Please provide your comments by April 2026 to ensure Sunset staff can fully consider your input while conducting their review. Comments submitted before the staff report is published in October 2026 will remain confidential.

Regulatory Agency Solicitation of Input and Notice of Public Hearing Requirements

Regulatory agencies, excluding river authorities, are also subject to two additional requirements, to the extent practicable, that affect individuals and entities licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized by the regulatory agency (regulated parties) to engage in an activity regulated by the agency. Regulatory agencies are required to:

• Solicit input from regulated parties on the agency’s performance. In soliciting input, a regulatory agency may inform regulated parties that they can submit their input on the agency directly to Sunset staff by submitting comments online or using any of the other methods described in Submit Your Input above; and
• Notify regulated parties of Sunset Commission public hearings related to the agency. In its notification, a regulatory agency can inform regulated parties that information about the Sunset public hearings related to the agency can be found at: Sunset Commission Meetings.

Stay informed! Members of the public and regulated parties may also sign up for email alerts on the Sunset staff report and the Sunset Commission’s public meetings on DSHS.