SB500

Regular Session

Relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.

CriticalImmediate action required

Medium 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. There is no phase-in period; pending cases on this date must comply immediately.
Agency Rulemaking: DFPS is expected to propose rules between January and June 2025 to reconcile the statutory text (45-day deadline) with their fiscal analysis (30-day deadline). Monitor the *Texas Register* closely during Q2 2025.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Draft the NDA: Have legal counsel finalize a template Nondisclosure Agreement for prospective parents by Q1 2025.
2. Update CMS Triggers: Configure your software to alert compliance staff 45 days after a "Permanency Plan Change" is entered.
3. Audit Vendor Capacity: Contact your third-party report writers immediately. Confirm they can handle a 100% increase in volume and a tighter turnaround time starting Sept 1, 2025.
4. Review Insurance: Verify your Cyber/Privacy Liability policy covers wrongful disclosure of third-party information (specifically regarding biological siblings).

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Vendor MSAs (Report Writers): You must amend Master Services Agreements with third-party case management vendors. The scope of work must change to require report delivery within 45 days of a permanency plan change, not termination of rights. Include indemnification clauses for redaction errors.
Adoptive Parent Agreements: Intake packets must be updated to include a mandatory Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA). You cannot legally release information without this executed contract.

Hiring/Training

Redaction Training: Staff must be retrained immediately. The law now explicitly requires the redaction of biological siblings adopted by other families and reporters of abuse/neglect. This is a high-liability area; general redaction is no longer sufficient.
Resource Allocation: The Legislative Budget Board estimates the volume of required reports will double. You may need to increase administrative headcount or vendor budgets to handle the surge in report generation triggered by plan changes.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

New Data Trigger: Your case management software (CMS) must track the "Permanency Plan Change Date." This is now your statutory compliance clock start time.
Request Tracking: You must implement a ticketing system to track the "Date of Request" from adoptive parents. You have a hard statutory deadline of 90 days from this date to redact and release the file.
NDA Storage: A signed NDA must be digitally linked to the case file before the system permits the release of the HSEGH report.

Fees & Costs

Operational Increases: While there are no new state fees, the cost to produce reports is estimated at $432 per report. Because reports are now required earlier in the process (Plan Change), you will incur these costs for cases that may not result in final adoption. Budget accordingly.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

The "30 vs. 45 Day" Trap: The statute explicitly sets a 45-day deadline for you to receive the report. However, the Legislative Budget Board's Fiscal Note calculates costs based on a 30-day deadline. DFPS may attempt to enforce the stricter 30-day window via rulemaking to align with their funding request. Plan for a 30-day turnaround to remain safe.
"Other Person" Confidentiality: The law requires redacting "any other person whose identity is confidential under Section 262.308." This is a catch-all provision. DFPS rulemaking will likely expand the definition of who falls into this category, potentially including foster parents or distant relatives.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsFamily Family--child Protection Family--parent & Child Protection of Personal Information Adoption Family & Protective Services, Department of

Official Analysis

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BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 500
89R467 MLH-F	By: Sparks
	Health & Human Services
	2/6/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under current law, prospective adoptive parents must review a child's health, social, educational, and genetic history (HSEGH) report before adoption can proceed. However, delays in providing these records have contributed to longer waiting times for adoption. In 2024, a Department of Family and Protective Services follow-up report revealed that it takes an average of 52-55 days to process these records, with some cases extending over six months. This legislation builds on the foundation laid by S.B. 2009 in the 88th Legislature, which sought to streamline the process by mandating that HSEGH reports be compiled and distributed within 30 days of any change in the adoption plan. S.B. 500 amends the Family Code to set specific deadlines for the provision of these records and reduces the amount of information that needs to be redacted, ensuring that children move out of the foster care system more quickly and the state incurs fewer costs related to foster care.

As proposed, S.B. 500 amends current law relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.

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 Sections 162.005(b) and (c), Family Code, as follows:

(b) Requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), a licensed child-placing agency, or a child's parent or guardian, before placing the child for adoption, to compile a report on the available health, social, educational, and genetic history of the child to be adopted and distribute the report as required by� Chapter 162 (Adoption).

(c) Requires DFPS to ensure that each licensed child-placing agency, single source continuum contractor, or other person placing a child for adoption receives a copy of any portion of the report prepared by DFPS not later than the 30th day after the date the child's permanency plan is changed to include adoption.

SECTION 2.� Amends Section 162.0062, Family Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-2) and (a-3), as follows:

(a) Entitles the prospective adoptive parents of a child, except as provided by Subsection (c) (relating to DFPS's authority to provide records and certain other information relating to the history of the child to the prospective adoptive parents after they review the child's history report), to examine the records and other information relating to the history of the child, including confidential information other than the identity of the biological parents and any other person whose identity is confidential.� Requires DFPS, the licensed child-placing agency, or other person placing the child for adoption to:

(1) redact each social security number from the records and information; and

(2) edit the records and information to protect the identity of the biological parents, any biological siblings adopted by a different family, the adoptive parents of those biological siblings, any person who made a report of abuse or neglect to DFPS or a law enforcement agency, and any person whose identity is confidential under Section 262.308� (Confidentiality). Makes a nonsubstantive change.

(a-2) Requires a prospective adoptive parent to sign a nondisclosure agreement before DFPS, the licensed child-placing agency, or other person placing the child for adoption is authorized to release confidential information under Section 162.0062 (Access to Information).

(a-3) Requires DFPS, the licensed child-placing agency, or other person placing the child for adoption to provide the information under this section not later than the 90th day after the date the information is requested.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Kevin SparksRepublican · Primary Author

Coauthors (3)

House Sponsor

Rep. Matthew ShaheenRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 500

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Sections 162.005(b) and (c), Family Code, are
	amended to read as follows:
	(b) Before placing a child for adoption, the Department of
	Family and Protective Services, a licensed child-placing agency, or
	the child's parent or guardian shall compile a report on the
	available health, social, educational, and genetic history of the
	child to be adopted and distribute the report as required by this
	chapter.
	(c) The department shall ensure that each licensed
	child-placing agency, single source continuum contractor, or other
	person placing a child for adoption receives a copy of any portion
	of the report prepared by the department not later than the 45th day
	after the latter of:
	(1) the date the child's primary permanency plan goal
	is changed to adoption; or
	(2) the date the court renders an order terminating
	parental rights with regard to the child.
	SECTION 2. Section 162.0062, Family Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-2) and (a-3) to
	read as follows:
	(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the prospective
	adoptive parents of a child are entitled to examine the records and
	other information relating to the history of the child, including
	confidential information other than the identity of the biological
	parents and any other person whose identity is confidential. The
	Department of Family and Protective Services, licensed
	child-placing agency, or other person placing a child for adoption
	shall inform the prospective adoptive parents of their right to
	examine the records and other information relating to the history
	of the child. The department, licensed child-placing agency, or
	other person placing the child for adoption shall:
	(1) redact each social security number from the
	records and information; and
	(2) edit the records and information to protect the
	identity of the biological parents, any biological siblings adopted
	by a different family, the adoptive parents of those biological
	siblings, any person who made a report of abuse or neglect to the
	department or a law enforcement agency, and any [~~other~~] person
	whose identity is confidential under Section 262.308.
	(a-2) A prospective adoptive parent must sign a
	nondisclosure agreement before the department, licensed
	child-placing agency, or other person placing the child for
	adoption may release confidential information under this section.
	(a-3) The department, licensed child-placing agency, or
	other person placing the child for adoption shall provide the
	information under this section not later than the 90th day after the
	date the information is requested.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 7, 2025

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

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB500 by Sparks (Relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.), As Introduced

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB500, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($6,955,560) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.

General Revenue-Related Funds, Five- Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds
2026	($3,551,400)
2027	($3,404,160)
2028	($3,404,160)
2029	($3,404,160)
2030	($3,404,160)

All Funds, Five-Year Impact:

Fiscal Year	Probable Savings/(Cost) from General Revenue Fund 1	Probable Savings/(Cost) from GR Match For Medicaid 758	Probable Savings/(Cost) from Federal Funds 555
2026	($3,550,088)	($1,312)	($19,000)
2027	($3,404,160)	$0	$0
2028	($3,404,160)	$0	$0
2029	($3,404,160)	$0	$0
2030	($3,404,160)	$0	$0

Fiscal Analysis

The bill would require the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to ensure that licensed child-placing agencies, single source continuum contractors (SSCCs), or other person placing a child for adoption, receives a copy of the health, social, educational, and genetic history (HSEGH) report of the child, no later than the 30th day after the date the child's permanency plan is changed to include adoption. The bill would also require the redaction of certain information.

Methodology

According to DFPS, the agency currently provides the HSEGH report 45 days after the termination of parental rights. The bill would increase the number of children for which reports are required as well as shorten the timeline from 45 days to 30 days.

DFPS contracts with a third-party vendor to produce the HSEGH reports and SSCCs either use a third-party vendor or produce the report utilizing internal resources.

DFPS reports that currently 3,641 reports are completed annually and assume an additional 3,940 reports would need to be completed since the number of children who have a permanency plan that includes adoption as a goal is significantly more than the number of children whose parental rights have been terminated, resulting in an increased number of reports.

Each HSEGH report costs $432 to complete, therefore, 3,940 additional reports would result in a cost of $1,702,080 in General Revenue in each fiscal year for children in the legacy system. DFPS assumes since SSCCs have approximately 50 percent of conservatorship Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs), the SSCC would have similar caseloads also resulting in 3,940 additional reports in each fiscal year. The estimated costs for the Community-based Care system are also expected to be $1,702,080 in General Revenue in each fiscal year.

This analysis also assumes the need to modify the Information Management Protecting Adults and Children in Texas (IMPACT) system to track permanency plans which are not currently data points in the system. The modifications would also include new internal reporting to ensure compliance. It is assumed that 1.0 System Analyst V Contracted FTE would be needed in fiscal year 2026 to complete the modifications.

Technology

Technology costs to modify the IMPACT system are estimated to be $140,105 in All Funds in fiscal year 2026.

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, NV

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB500

What does Texas SB500 do?

Senate Bill 500 fundamentally shifts the compliance trigger for adoption records from the "termination of parental rights" to the "permanency plan change," effectively doubling the volume of required Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History (HSEGH) reports. This legislation mandates strict new redaction protocols and requires Licensed Child-Placing Agencies (LCPAs) and Single Source Continuum Contractors (SSCCs) to secure signed Nondisclosure Agreements (NDAs) from prospective parents before releasing any data. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025.

Who authored SB500?

SB500 was authored by Texas Senator Kevin Sparks during the Regular Session.

When was SB500 signed into law?

SB500 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Which agencies enforce SB500?

SB500 is enforced by Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).

How urgent is compliance with SB500?

The compliance urgency for SB500 is rated as "critical". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of SB500?

The cost impact of SB500 is estimated as "medium". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does SB500 address?

SB500 addresses topics including family, family--child protection, family--parent & child, protection of personal information and adoption.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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