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.
HB 1151 amends Texas law to clarify that specific parental actions cannot be used as evidence for terminating a parent-child relationship. The bill explicitly states that factors like homeschooling, economic hardship, religiously-based medical decisions (such as declining vaccines), or seeking multiple medical opinions do not constitute clear and convincing evidence for termination. It also updates the definition of "neglect" to require proof of "blatant disregard" for consequences causing immediate harm or danger to a child. This change directly affects parents, children, and the Department of Family and Protective Services in child welfare cases by setting clearer boundaries for when parental rights may be terminated.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Mar 7, 2025
Signed May 28, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
May 28, 2025
MODERATE
This bill amends Texas Family Code provisions regarding child neglect and termination of parental rights. It clarifies that certain parental actions - such as homeschooling, being economically disadvantaged, or having certain nonviolent misdemeanor charges - do not constitute grounds for terminating parental rights or taking possession of a child by the Department of Family and Protective Services. The bill also adds a new ground for termination: a parent testing positive for marijuana, unless the department can prove it caused significant harm to the child.
Scope change
The bill applies only to suits filed on or after the effective date (September 1, 2025), with prior cases governed by existing law.
ELIGIBILITY
Removed 'sought an opinion from more than one medical provider' as a ground for termination of parental rights, as this was previously included in the Engrossed version but removed in the Enrolled version.
Added 'tested positive for marijuana' as a new ground for termination of parental rights, unless the parent can show their use did not significantly impair the child's health or development.
DEFINITION
Updated the definition of 'neglect' to align with the revised termination grounds, ensuring consistency across sections of the Family Code.
TIMELINE
Established September 1, 2025, as the effective date for the new provisions.
Floor votes · House Apr 16, 2025
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
49
Key actions
17
Committee
12
May 28, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate passage reported
lower
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
May 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
May 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
May 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
May 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
Apr 16, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Human Services
lower
Mar 7, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
2 primary · 7 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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