Relating to policies related to the removal and placement of a child by the Department of Family and Protective Services.

HB 5255 prohibits Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services from considering citizenship or immigration status when making decisions about removing or placing children. Specifically, it bans the department from factoring in the immigration status of relatives, caregivers, or parents during placement decisions. The bill directly affects children in foster care, their relatives seeking to care for them, and parents involved in child welfare cases. It takes effect September 1, 2025, requiring the department to base placement decisions solely on child welfare factors, not immigration status.