SB2306

Regular Session

Relating to the provision of adoption cost information by a licensed child-placing agency.

ModeratePlan for compliance

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

Effective Date: September 1, 2025
Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (Websites must be updated and live by 12:01 AM).
Agency Rulemaking: While the statute is self-executing, the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) will likely update Minimum Standards to define the granularity of "itemized lists." Expect regulatory guidance or inspection checklists to emerge in Q4 2025.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Convene Finance & Legal: Immediately finalize a standardized "Itemized Fee Schedule" that breaks down lump sums into specific line items (application, home study, placement, supervision).
2. Web Development: Instruct IT to create a dedicated page for fee disclosures. Do not bury this in a downloadable PDF; make it visible text.
3. Contract Review: Revise standard client contracts to reference the website disclosure and clarify that third-party costs are estimates.
4. Establish Version Control: Create a "Digital Compliance Log" to store time-stamped copies of the website fee schedule.
5. Go-Live Audit: Schedule a final review on August 15, 2025, to ensure the website matches your printed intake packets before the September 1 deadline.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Alignment Audit: Existing service agreements and retainer contracts must be cross-referenced against the new public fee schedule.

Consistency Clause: Ensure that the fees listed in your contracts match the public website exactly. Discrepancies create immediate grounds for contract disputes.
Variable Cost Disclaimers: Contracts must explicitly define which costs are pass-throughs (e.g., medical expenses, third-party legal fees) to prevent families from interpreting the website's itemized list as a guaranteed "all-inclusive" cap.

Hiring/Training

Intake Protocols: Admissions and intake staff must be retrained immediately. They cannot verbally offer "sliding scales" or estimates that contradict the published website rates without documenting the deviation explicitly. Verbal representations that differ from the website create liability.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Digital Archiving: You must implement a protocol to archive your website's fee page.

Snapshot Requirement: Every time fees change, save a dated PDF or screenshot of the website. If a family sues two years from now claiming they relied on a specific price, you must be able to produce the fee schedule as it appeared on the date of their inquiry.

Fees & Costs

Web Development: Budget immediately for IT vendors to build a conspicuous "Adoption Costs" landing page.

Legal Review: Allocate funds for legal counsel to review the nomenclature of your fees to ensure they are not misleading under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA).

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

"Each Cost" vs. Variable Expenses: The statute requires a list of "each cost," but does not specify how to handle variable expenses (e.g., birth parent living expenses or travel).

Risk: Listing a fixed number for a variable cost creates a binding offer. Omitting the cost violates the statute.
Strategy: Until DFPS clarifies, list variable costs as ranges (e.g., "$2,000 – $5,000") clearly labeled as "Estimates based on case specifics."

Third-Party Fees: It is unclear if agencies must list fees paid directly to third parties (independent attorneys, court filing fees).

Strategy: Over-disclose. List these as "Estimated Third-Party Pass-Through Costs" to ensure full statutory compliance.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsFamily Family--parent & Child Adoption Internet

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2306
89R15626 KRM-D	By: Parker
	Health & Human Services
	4/17/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The adoption process provides a critical pathway to permanency for children in need of loving families. However, private adoptions often come with substantial financial burdens that can place them out of reach for many prospective parents. Costs associated with private adoptions�including agency fees, legal expenses, home studies, and other administrative costs�can vary widely, creating uncertainty and potential financial strain for families seeking to adopt.

A lack of transparency in adoption-related expenses has also raised concerns among prospective adoptive parents and policymakers. Without clear, publicly available cost breakdowns, families may struggle to plan effectively for adoption expenses or compare agencies based on financial factors. Greater transparency in adoption costs would not only promote informed decision-making but also help ensure that adoption remains an accessible and ethical option for families across Texas.

S.B. 2306 addresses these challenges by requiring licensed child-placing agencies to provide an itemized list of adoption-related costs on their websites. By making this information readily available, the bill aims to enhance transparency, reduce financial uncertainty for adoptive families, and promote fairness within the adoption system.

As proposed, S.B. 2306 amends current law relating to the provision of adoption cost information by a licensed child-placing agency.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 162, Family Code, by adding Section 162.605, as follows:

Sec. 162.605. INFORMATION REGARDING ADOPTION COSTS. Requires a licensed child-placing agency to post on its Internet website information regarding adoption costs. Requires that the information include an itemized list of each cost associated with an adoption.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Tan ParkerRepublican · Primary Author

Coauthors (1)

Lois Kolkhorst (R)

House Sponsors

Rep. Nate SchatzlineRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Joint Sponsors

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 2306

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the provision of adoption cost information by a
	licensed child-placing agency.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 162, Family Code, is
	amended by adding Section 162.605 to read as follows:
	Sec. 162.605. INFORMATION REGARDING ADOPTION COSTS. A
	licensed child-placing agency shall post on its Internet website
	information regarding adoption costs. The information must include
	an itemized list of each cost associated with an adoption.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 22, 2025

TO:	Honorable Lois W. Kolkhorst, Chair, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB2306 by Parker (Relating to the provision of adoption cost information by a licensed child-placing agency.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require a licensed child-placing agency to post on its website information regarding adoption costs.

It is assumed that any costs to the Department of Family and Protective Services could be absorbed within existing resources.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

530 Family and Protective Services, Department of

LBB Staff:

JMc, NPe, ER, AN

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB2306

What does Texas SB2306 do?

Senate Bill 2306 amends the Texas Family Code to mandate that all licensed child-placing agencies publicly post an itemized list of all adoption-related costs on their internet websites. This statute removes the ability to keep fee schedules internal or confidential; agencies must ensure total consistency between online disclosures and client service agreements to avoid liability for deceptive trade practices. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (Websites must be updated and live by 12:01 AM).

Who authored SB2306?

SB2306 was authored by Texas Senator Tan Parker during the Regular Session.

When was SB2306 signed into law?

SB2306 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 27, 2025.

Which agencies enforce SB2306?

SB2306 is enforced by Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).

How urgent is compliance with SB2306?

The compliance urgency for SB2306 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of SB2306?

The cost impact of SB2306 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does SB2306 address?

SB2306 addresses topics including family, family--parent & child, adoption and internet.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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