Texas CASA Legislative Wins Offer Real Momentum for Texas Children & Families
Dear Friends,
During the regular 89th Texas legislative session, Texas CASA tracked over 360 child welfare bills and helped successfully advance several critical reforms. These new measures strengthen the foundational elements of transparency and family involvement in the ever-changing Texas child welfare system.
This is what they mean for Texas children, families and advocates:
Promoting family preservation:
- SB 226: Establishes residency for children who are the subject of parental child safety placement agreements for purposes of admission into public schools.
- HB 694: Adds parents’ attorneys to the list of notice of significant events, changes the notice of significant events from 10 days to 48 hours for the child’s team, and ensures parents receive notice of placement changes within 24 hours.
Enhanced safety measures for children in foster care:
- SB 2165: Prohibits courts from dismissing a foster care case solely because a child is missing or has run away.
- HB 451: Requires the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to screen children for the risk of commercial sexual exploitation.
Strengthened support for kinship caregivers:
- HB 5394: Prohibits child-placing agencies from requiring licensing standards beyond what is included in statute or HHSC rule for relative and designated caregivers.
Increased support for older youth and young adults:
- HB 1211: Increases the age limit from 25 to 27 for youth formerly in foster care to access their tuition and fee waivers.
- HB 4655: Enhances the Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) program to include credit education, budgeting, accessing benefits and understanding predatory lending.
Stronger accountability for Community-Based Care:
- SB 2034: Allows the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to petition a court for receivership of a Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) when there are serious performance issues or risks to child safety. This will ensure DFPS can act swiftly to maintain continuity of services and protect children in community-based care.
- SB 1398: Strengthens DFPS oversight of Community-Based Care (CBC) by adding performance metrics for SSCCs and gives communities faster recourse when CBC performance does not meet standards. This is an essential protection as CBC continues expanding across the state.
Most laws went into effect on September 1, 2025, and Texas CASA remains committed to ensuring accountability, strengthening permanency outcomes and guaranteeing that every law translates into real benefits for Texas children and families who are experiencing foster care.
For a more detailed look at the 89th legislative session outcomes in relation to child welfare and Texas CASA, check out this page: texascasa.org/89th-legislative-session-outcomes.
Mis mejores deseos,
