Bill tracker
Welcome to the 87th Legislative Session Bill Tracker & Session Outcomes page!
With the end of the 87th Regular Session, we have revamped the Bill Tracker to showcase which child welfare bills passed and what that means for children and families in the system. You can search by topics of interest listed below or scroll through the page to see them all.
Juvenile Justice
SB 2049: Relating to guardians ad litem for children who are in the juvenile justice system and the child protective services system.
Author: Sen. Menéndez
Companion: HB 3895
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Adds that guardians ad litem (GAL) may be appointed by the juvenile court to serve children who are before that court and also involved with the Department in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. Stipulates that a GAL appointed for dual-status youth may not investigate charges pending in the juvenile court.
Status: Sent to the Governor
HB 80: Relating to the discharge by certain defendants of fines and costs through community service.
Author: Rep. Johnson, Jarvis
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Forbids judges and justices from imposing fines or costs on children and youth in the conservatorship of the Department, or on those in extended foster care. Fines and costs are to be waived, and in some instances community service may be required instead.
Status: Sent to the Governor
HB 3165: Relating to an affirmative defense to an allegation of truant conduct.
Author: Rep. Meyer
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Adds voluntary absence from the child’s home due to abuse as an affirmative defense in a truancy hearing.
Status: Signed by the Governor
human trafficking
HB 1005: Relating to the requisites of a bail bond given by certain defendants and to conditions of release on bond for certain defendants.
Author: Rep. Leman
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Requires conditions of bond for trafficking or other sexual offenses against minors to include not contacting the child directly or indirectly. Also prohibits going near places of attendance by the victim including but not limited to their place of residence, school, daycare or employment.
Companion: SB 317
Status: Effective 9/1/21
HB 1540: Relating to regulation of certain facilities and establishments with respect to, civil remedies for certain criminal activities affecting, and certain criminal offenses involving health, safety, and welfare; creating a criminal offense; increasing criminal penalties.
Author: Rep. Thompson, S.
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Aims to ensure that a child’s health, safety and welfare are protected while on the grounds of a childcare facility or registered family home, including general residential operations (GRO). Requires “No Trespassing” signs be posted on the grounds of GROs in various specified locations, in both English and Spanish. Makes it a first-degree felony for a trespass offense by an unauthorized person, 18 or over, when the offense occurs in or at a residential treatment center. Expands the definition of coercion in the penal code.
Status: Referred to Senate Jurisprudence Committee
HB 2633: Relating to resources provided to human trafficking victims and the establishment of the trafficked persons grant program.
Author: Rep. Johnson, A.
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Creates a multi-purpose grants program intended to support victims of trafficking and those who work with them. Grant uses include but are not limited to prevention and awareness efforts, research, housing and recovery programs. The funds in the grant will come from contributions made under both the Government and Transportation codes, specialty license plates, gifts, donation, legislative appropriations and interest.
Status: Signed by the Governor
Parent/family rights & support
HB 2924: Relating to certain grounds for the involuntary termination of the parent-child relationship.
Author: Rep. Dutton
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Removes previous termination of parental rights as a reason to terminate parental rights.
Status: Sent to the Governor
HB 2926: Relating to the reinstatement of the parent-child relationship with respect to a person whose parental rights have been involuntarily terminated.
Author: Rep. Parker
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Allows the court to consider petition of reinstatement of parental rights for parents whose rights were previously involuntary terminated. Petitions for reinstatement may be filed by the parent, the Department, the Single Source Continuum Contractor, or the attorney ad litem. Petitions may only be filed if two years have passed since the termination and the child has not been adopted. The parent must demonstrate that their situation has improved since the termination occurred, and the child’s preference must also be taken into consideration.
Status: Signed by the Governor
SB 263: Relating to the ability of certain relative caretakers of dependent children to receive supplemental financial assistance and be assigned as protective payees for financial assistance payments.
Author: Sen. Menéndez
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Broadens the definition of relative caregivers of dependent children eligible to receive supplemental financial assistance to include aunt, uncle, sister or brother; and lowers the age of eligibility from 45 to 25 years old. To serve as a protective payee of a child, the relative caregiver must be 25 years of age.
Status: Signed by the Governor
SB 642: Relating to the provision of mental health services for certain children at risk of relinquishment.
Author: Sen. West
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Requires DFPS and the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt clear procedures and guidance for families at risk of relinquishing their rights to the Department, for the sole purpose of accessing mental health services for a child with severe emotional disturbance.
Status: Signed by the Governor
Supporting youth in pmc
HB 2058: Relating to age-appropriate normalcy activities for children in the managing conservatorship of the state.
Author: Rep. Klick
Companion: SB 52
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Promotes age-appropriate normalcy activities for children by requiring the court to review the Department’s efforts to ensure the child has regular and ongoing normalcy opportunities, whether or not those activities are listed in the child’s service plan. This is to occur at each permanency hearing after a final order has been made.
Status: Signed by the Governor
HB 1315: Relating to the duration of an appointment of a guardian ad litem or an attorney ad litem for a child in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.
Author: Rep. Johnson, Jarvis
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
In child protection cases where parental rights are being terminated or conservatorship is requested by the Department, requires the continuation of appointment for guardian ad litem, attorney ad litem, or an attorney serving in a dual role, for as long as the child remains in the conservatorship of the Department.
Status: Sent to the Governor
Supporting youth who older & transitioning out of foster care
SB 1059: Relating to the process for determining the Medicaid eligibility of certain former foster care youth.
Author: Sen. Paxton
Companion: HB 2963
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
For youth formerly in foster care, creates a streamlined process for determining eligibility for Medicaid including automatic enrollment or recertification, and simplifies the recertification process if needed, including residency requirements. Aims to prevent unnecessary interruptions to health coverage.
Status: Signed by the Governor
SB 2054: Relating to the waiver of fees and costs associated with driver education and safety courses and driver's license examinations for foster children or youth, former foster children or youth, and youth experiencing homelessness.
Author: Sen. Menéndez
Companion: HB 2286
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Requires the waiving of fees for driver education for youth and young adults under the age of 26, who were in the managing conservatorship of the Department prior to their 18th birthday and who resided in a paid foster care placement. The fee waiver also applies to youth experiencing homelessness.
Status: Sent to the Governor
HB 700: Relating to the eligibility of foster children to receive college credit for completing the Preparation for Adult Living Program.
Author: Rep. Johnson, Jarvis
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Requires the Department to establish a work group that will develop a plan to ensure youth who complete the Preparation for Adult Living Program (PAL) receive college credit for the completion of the curriculum. The bill requires certain membership in the workgroup and requires a report be issued by November 1, 2022.
Status: Sent to the Governor
family first prevention services act
SB 1575: Relating to assessment and oversight of children placed by the Department of Family and Protective Services in a residential treatment center.
Author: Sen. Kolkhorst
Companion: HB 4476
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Outlines a process for the court to review placements by the Department of children and youth in residential treatment centers. In the review and assessment of the placements, recommends that the goals and needs of the child are considered, that efforts are made for the child to be moved into a less-restrictive setting and that qualified residential treatment programs are used if residential care is needed. Stipulates the Department shall convene family and other natural support people together to serve on the child’s family and permanency team, for youth in residential care placements.
Status: Signed by the Governor
HB 3041: Relating to the procedures and grounds for taking possession of a child and authorizing a family preservation services pilot program as an alternative to removal in suits affecting the parent-child relationship.
Author: Rep. Frank
Companion: SB 1576
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Requires the Department to create a pilot program for family preservation/court-ordered services that are eligible for Family First Prevention Services Act reimbursement. The pilot program is to occur in two regions, one rural and one urban, one of which must be involved in Community-Based Care. Under the pilot program, both the child and parents are to receive an attorney ad litem, a court order must be in place and a service plan must be written. The pilot program’s goal is to keep the child at home or with relatives instead of entering the foster care system.
Status: Signed by the Governor
general system improvement
SB 672: Relating to Medicaid coverage of certain collaborative care management services.
Author: Sen. Buckingham
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Pending approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, requires the state to provide Medicaid reimbursement for behavioral health services that are provided under a collaborative care model.
Status: Signed by the Governor
SB 904: Relating to requiring trauma training for certain attorneys.
Author: Sen. Perry
Companion: HB 566
About: Bill History | Bill Summary
Requires attorneys eligible to be appointed as attorney ad litem to receive trauma-informed care training that is designed to educate an attorney about their duty and includes information regarding the symptoms and impacts of trauma on a child, attachment, resiliency and adverse childhood experiences, screening, and trauma-informed interventions and advocacy.
Status: Effective 9/1/21