HB 4655 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the Preparation for Adult Living Program and other services for foster children transitioning to independent living.

HB 4655 amends Texas law to require foster youth transitioning to independent living (ages 16-21) to receive hands-on financial literacy training through the Preparation for Adult Living Program. The bill mandates specific instruction on credit scores, avoiding predatory loans, budgeting for real-world expenses like rent and utilities, and saving money. It requires training to include practical skills such as opening bank accounts, managing paychecks, filing taxes, and protecting personal financial information. The program must also help youth establish savings plans and create monthly budgets based on actual local costs. This policy change directly affects foster youth exiting state care, aiming to improve their financial preparedness for adulthood.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Apr 3, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 6 edits · Jun 20, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends the Texas Family Code to update financial literacy training requirements for foster youth transitioning to independent living. The changes add specific instruction on avoiding predatory lending and financial scams, update the list of required budget expense categories, and add new governmental assistance programs to the transition planning requirements. The bill also adds a new subsection (j) requiring the department to include information about securing or transferring governmental assistance in transition plans for youth 16 and older.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of required financial education and transition planning for foster youth, adding specific topics on predatory lending avoidance and additional governmental assistance programs.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific instruction on avoiding predatory lending practices, including explanations of interest rates and usurious interest, to the financial literacy curriculum.

Added instruction on identifying and avoiding financial scams to the required financial literacy training.

Added special supplemental nutrition assistance for women, infants, and children to the list of governmental assistance programs that must be included in transition plans.

Added temporary assistance for needy families and housing assistance to the list of governmental assistance programs that must be included in transition plans.

Reorganized and renumbered the list of required budget expense categories for youth transitioning from foster care.

TIMELINE

Added an effective date of September 1, 2025 for the new requirements.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 20, 2025

Signed into law

Signed by the Governor

executive

May 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed in the Senate

upper

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Signed in the House

lower

May 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate passage reported

lower

May 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

May 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendments

upper

May 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

May 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

May 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

May 8, 2025

Committee

Referred to Health & Human Services

upper

May 8, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

May 8, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

May 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Committee

Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Human Services

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

2 primary · 2 co-sponsors