Texas 89th Legislature
Family--child Protection
12 high-impact bills require immediate attention. 22 bills have bipartisan support.
High-Impact Bills
12 bills require immediate attention
Relating to certain procedures in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship for a child placed in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services and the provision of family preservation services and community-based foster care.
Relating to the contract requirements for a contract between a single source continuum contractor and the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the receivership of a single-source continuum contractor providing child welfare services.
Relating to the collection and confidentiality of information regarding firearms in agency foster homes; creating a civil penalty.
Relating to certain policies and procedures for health care specialty consultations in certain child abuse or neglect investigations and assessments.
Relating to public hearing requirements for issuing a license for or expanding certain residential child-care facilities.
Family--child Protection Filing Activity
Compliance & Cost
Leading Authors
All Bills (31)
Relating to grounds for the involuntary termination of the parent-child relationship.
Relating to grounds for the involuntary termination of the parent-child relationship.
Relating to advisory bodies for the Department of Family and Protective Services, including the creation of the child protective investigations advisory committee and the abolition of the Family and Protective Services Council.
Relating to advisory bodies for the Department of Family and Protective Services, including the creation of the child protective investigations advisory committee and the abolition of the Family and Protective Services Council.
Relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of certain children.
Relating to a screening for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation of certain children.
Relating to the notification of certain persons concerning certain events related to children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the notification of certain persons concerning certain events related to children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the definitions of child abuse and neglect.
Relating to the definitions of child abuse and neglect.
Relating to neglect of a child and the grounds for termination of the parent-child relationship and possession of a child by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to neglect of a child and the grounds for termination of the parent-child relationship and possession of a child by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain students who were under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to tuition and fee exemptions at public institutions of higher education for certain students who were under the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the collection and confidentiality of information regarding firearms in agency foster homes; creating a civil penalty.
Relating to the collection and confidentiality of information regarding firearms in agency foster homes; creating a civil penalty.
Relating to certain policies and procedures for health care specialty consultations in certain child abuse or neglect investigations and assessments.
Relating to certain policies and procedures for health care specialty consultations in certain child abuse or neglect investigations and assessments.
Relating to the regulation of child welfare, including licensure, community-based care contractors, family homes, and child-care facilities.
Relating to the regulation of child welfare, including licensure, community-based care contractors, family homes, and child-care facilities.
Relating to required reporting by the Department of Family and Protective Services regarding youth in the managing conservatorship of the department who attempt suicide.
Relating to required reporting by the Department of Family and Protective Services regarding youth in the managing conservatorship of the department who attempt suicide.
Relating to public hearing requirements for issuing a license for or expanding certain residential child-care facilities.
Relating to public hearing requirements for issuing a license for or expanding certain residential child-care facilities.
Relating to the contract requirements for a contract between a single source continuum contractor and the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the contract requirements for a contract between a single source continuum contractor and the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the retention of certain genetic material and genetic information by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the retention of certain genetic material and genetic information by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to restrictions on the fee assessed for issuance of certain birth records.
Relating to restrictions on the fee assessed for issuance of certain birth records.
Relating to the Preparation for Adult Living Program and other services for foster children transitioning to independent living.
Relating to the Preparation for Adult Living Program and other services for foster children transitioning to independent living.
Relating to restricting the collection and use of DNA samples from children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to restricting the collection and use of DNA samples from children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to prohibiting single source continuum contractors and child-placing agencies from imposing certain requirements on or adopting certain policies and procedures related to relative and designated caregivers.
Relating to prohibiting single source continuum contractors and child-placing agencies from imposing certain requirements on or adopting certain policies and procedures related to relative and designated caregivers.
Relating to the offense of failure to report child abuse or neglect by certain professionals and the statute of limitations for that offense; harmonizing other statute of limitations provisions.
Relating to the offense of failure to report child abuse or neglect by certain professionals and the statute of limitations for that offense; harmonizing other statute of limitations provisions.
Relating to establishing residency for children who are the subject of parental child safety placement agreements for purposes of admission into public schools.
Relating to establishing residency for children who are the subject of parental child safety placement agreements for purposes of admission into public schools.
Relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.
Relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.
Relating to a rural community-based care pilot program.
Relating to a rural community-based care pilot program.
Relating to the reporting and investigation of certain misconduct and child abuse and neglect; creating a criminal offense.
Relating to the reporting and investigation of certain misconduct and child abuse and neglect; creating a criminal offense.
Relating to the admissibility of certain hearsay statements in the adjudication of certain sexual or assaultive offenses committed against a child or a person with a disability.
Relating to the admissibility of certain hearsay statements in the adjudication of certain sexual or assaultive offenses committed against a child or a person with a disability.
Relating to confirming the provision of certain notices before the full adversary hearing in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to confirming the provision of certain notices before the full adversary hearing in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to certain procedures in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship for a child placed in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services and the provision of family preservation services and community-based foster care.
Relating to certain procedures in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship for a child placed in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services and the provision of family preservation services and community-based foster care.
Relating to the contract requirements for a contract between a single source continuum contractor and the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the contract requirements for a contract between a single source continuum contractor and the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the modification of certain orders providing for the support of a child.
Relating to the modification of certain orders providing for the support of a child.
Relating to certain requirements regarding a contract between a single source continuum contractor and the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to certain requirements regarding a contract between a single source continuum contractor and the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to the receivership of a single-source continuum contractor providing child welfare services.
Relating to the receivership of a single-source continuum contractor providing child welfare services.
Relating to prohibiting the dismissal of certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship involving the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Relating to prohibiting the dismissal of certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship involving the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Texas laws on family--child protection passed in 2025?
- The Texas 89th Legislature enacted 31 laws related to family--child protection. These bills were authored by 23 different legislators and address various aspects of family--child protection policy in Texas.
- Did family--child protection bills originate in the Texas House or Senate?
- Family--child Protection legislation from the 89th Legislature includes 18 House bills and 13 Senate bills. Both chambers contributed significant legislation on this topic.
- Which Texas legislators authored the most family--child protection bills?
- The leading authors of family--child protection legislation include Rep. Lacey Hull (R) with 3 bills, Rep. Toni Rose (D) with 2 bills, Sen. Angela Paxton (R) with 2 bills. These lawmakers have demonstrated particular focus on family--child protection issues during the 89th Legislature.
- How urgent are the compliance requirements for family--child protection legislation?
- Among the 31 family--child protection bills enacted, 12 have critical compliance urgency and 9 have moderate urgency. Businesses should prioritize reviewing high-urgency bills for immediate compliance planning.
- What subjects are related to family--child protection in Texas law?
- Family--child Protection legislation frequently overlaps with Family, Family & Protective Services, Department of, Family--parent & Child. Bills often address multiple related policy areas, so reviewing these connected subjects may provide additional context.
- Is there bipartisan support for family--child protection legislation in Texas?
- Yes, 22 of the 31 family--child protection bills (71%) have bipartisan sponsorship, with both Republican and Democrat sponsors. This indicates areas of cross-party agreement on family--child protection policy.
- When do Texas family--child protection laws from the 89th Legislature take effect?
- Most Texas legislation takes effect September 1, 2025, unless otherwise specified. Some family--child protection bills may have immediate effective dates or delayed implementation schedules. Review individual bills for specific effective dates and compliance deadlines.
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