Relating to the establishment of the Texas Post-adoption Assistance Program.
HB 5302 establishes the Texas Post-Adoption Assistance Account Program to help adoptive parents cover post-adoption expenses like counseling or medical costs. The program allows certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (meeting specific eligibility criteria) to accept donations and distribute grants to eligible adoptive parents. Certified organizations must partner with the state, undergo annual audits, and follow guidelines set by the comptroller. This directly affects adoptive parents in Texas foster care and the nonprofit organizations administering the grants.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 7, 2025
Last action May 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Engrossed
·
5 edits
·
May 16, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was substantially rewritten to modernize language, update section numbering, and clarify the program's purpose. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a new Section 162.762 that explicitly lists eligible uses for grant funds, including behavioral therapy, transportation, summer camps, and equine or musical therapy. The maximum grant amount was also adjusted based on the number of children adopted.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on establishing a Texas Post-adoption Assistance Program, but the applicability of funds was expanded by adding specific categories of eligible expenses.
DEFINITION
Terminology was updated from 'account' to 'grant' in several sections to better reflect the program's structure.
REQUIREMENT
A new section (162.762) was added that explicitly lists eight categories of eligible expenses for grant funds, including behavioral therapy, transportation, summer camps, and equine or musical therapy.
FISCAL
The maximum grant amount was adjusted from a flat $2,000 to $2,000 for a single child and $1,500 for each additional child adopted.
TIMELINE
A new effective date of September 1, 2025 was added to the final section.
TECHNICAL
Formatting, spacing, and section numbering were corrected throughout the text to align with standard legislative formatting.
Floor votes · House May 15, 2025
How they voted
130–2
Passed · 13 other
Total votes 145
May 15, 2025
D
Democratic59
81% Yea
R
Republican86
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
26
Key actions
7
Committee
7
May 19, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services
upper
May 19, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 19, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
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 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Human Services
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
5 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Christian Manuel
DDemocratic
P
Cody Harris
RRepublican
P
Lacey Hull
RRepublican
P
Nate Schatzline
RRepublican
P
Stan Gerdes
RRepublican
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