Relating to the notification of certain persons concerning certain events related to children in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Faster family notices about children in care

Beginning September 1, 2025, Texas strengthens notice rules for children in state child welfare custody. The Department of Family and Protective Services must make reasonable efforts to notify parents and their lawyers within 24 hours about four events. These are a significant medical change, drug research participation, a first psychotropic medication prescription, or a placement change. Lawyers receive notice when the parent has legal representation. At least 48 hours before changing a child's residential care facility, the department must notify parents and their lawyers. It must also notify the child's court-appointed lawyer, guardian, volunteer advocate, and the placing agency's licensed administrator or designee. For significant events, notice is due as soon as possible, within 48 hours after the department learns about them—not 10 days. This deadline remains subject to the exception in Family Code Section 264.018(d-1). Significant-event notices go to those same recipients, plus foster parents, prospective adoptive parents, relatives providing care, or residential facility directors. They also go to anyone a court identifies as having an interest in the child's welfare. If a hearing occurs during that 48-hour period, the department must give notice at the hearing. A represented parent's lawyer must still receive notice when the department cannot locate the parent. That duty also applies when the child is in permanent state custody and the parent has not participated for at least six months despite department efforts. The department must record every notice and attempted notice in the child's case file.