Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certain attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill adjusts how attorneys ad litem are appointed and compensated in cases where government agencies file suit against parents over custody, care, or parental rights. While not about homeschooling directly, it affects the legal process in child welfare disputes that could involve homeschooling families.
Why it matters: Homeschooling parents involved in CPS or custody disputes may encounter these attorney ad litem procedures; changes to appointment and compensation rules could affect how quickly cases proceed and what legal representation is available.
Topic: cps_child_welfare · classifier confidence 65%
What this changes
Amends existing law
Law today: Texas law currently requires courts to appoint attorneys ad litem (guardians of legal interests) to represent certain parents and children in suits filed by governmental entities involving termination of parental rights or appointment of conservators. Attorneys ad litem are compensated either by the parents (if not indigent) or from county funds (if parents are indigent), but the compensation structure and fee schedules have not been clearly standardized.
If passed: This bill standardizes how much attorneys ad litem are paid in these cases by requiring each county to adopt a detailed fee schedule by January 1, 2026. It also adds a process for attorneys to appeal denied or delayed payment claims to the presiding judge of the judicial region and clarifies which parents require appointed attorneys. For homeschooling families, this bill has no direct effect on homeschooling rights or requirements—it is procedural law governing legal representation in child-welfare cases, not education regulation.
AI-generated from the bill text — verify against the official text.
Should I support this?
Little direct impact
This bill addresses attorney compensation and procedural rules in governmental child-welfare suits, not homeschooling freedoms, educational requirements, or state oversight of home education. It does not expand or restrict homeschooling or add regulatory burdens on families who homeschool.
An AI assessment from a Christian-family perspective — religious freedom, parental rights, and freedom in education — not legal or voting advice.
Official summary
Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certain attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity.
Sponsors
- Joseph Moody (D)
Status timeline
- 2025-05-15Placed on General State CalendarH
- 2025-05-13Considered in CalendarsH
- 2025-05-12Committee report sent to CalendarsH
- 2025-05-12Committee report distributedH
- 2025-05-12Comte report filed with Committee CoordinatorH
- 2025-05-08Reported favorably as substitutedH
- 2025-05-08Committee substitute considered in committeeH
- 2025-05-08Considered in formal meetingH
- 2025-05-08Recalled from subcommitteeH
- 2025-04-28Left pending in subcommitteeH
- 2025-04-28Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommitteeH
- 2025-04-28Committee substitute considered in s/cH
- 2025-04-28Considered by s/c in public hearingH
- 2025-04-28Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .H
- 2025-04-07Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by SpeakerH
- 2025-04-07Read first timeH
- 2025-03-14FiledH
H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly