SB 2501 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to selection of an attorney by an indigent parent as attorney ad litem for the parent in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.

SB 2501 would allow indigent parents in certain family court cases - such as those opposing termination of parental rights or custody disputes - to select their own attorney instead of relying solely on a court-appointed one. The bill requires courts to inform these parents of their right to choose a licensed Texas attorney who meets state bar requirements (including good standing and continuing education). It applies to indigent parents opposing cases, including those served by publication or with unknown location. The bill also ensures courts cannot interfere with a parent’s chosen attorney, who must then serve as the parent’s official counsel.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Jun 2025

Vetoed

Jun 2025

Introduced Mar 13, 2025 Vetoed Jun 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 6 edits · Jun 1, 2025

MODERATE

This bill adds a new section to the Texas Family Code allowing indigent parents in certain family law cases to select their own attorney instead of having one appointed by the court. The attorney selected by the parent must meet specific licensing and ethical requirements, and the court must approve the selection without delay or additional conditions.

Scope change

The bill applies to suits affecting parent-child relationships filed on or after the effective date of the act, with retroactive provisions for cases filed before that date.

ELIGIBILITY

New provision allowing indigent parents to select their own attorney ad litem in termination or conservatorship cases

REQUIREMENT

Selected attorneys must be licensed in Texas, in good standing with the State Bar, and meet continuing education requirements

ENFORCEMENT

Courts cannot deny, delay, or add requirements to attorney selection; interference with selection for financial gain or favoritism is a judicial ethics violation

FISCAL

Payment for selected attorneys equals payments made to court-appointed attorneys and is paid from county general funds

TIMELINE

Act takes effect September 1, 2025, with implementing rules due by January 1, 2026

TECHNICAL

Removed unrelated text about TLO digital content accessibility standards that appeared in the engrossed version but not in the enrolled version

Floor votes · House May 28, 2025

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 22, 2025

Vetoed

Vetoed by the Governor

executive

Jun 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Signed in the House

lower

May 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Signed in the Senate

upper

May 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

House passage reported

upper

May 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

May 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

May 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

lower

May 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

May 12, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

lower

May 12, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

May 9, 2025

Introduced

Received from the Senate

lower

May 9, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee report printed and distributed

upper

May 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

upper

Apr 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Vote taken in committee

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Jurisprudence

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors