# Texas SB 571: Relating to the reporting and investigation of certain misconduct and child abuse and neglect; creating a criminal offense. Texas SB 571, Relating to the reporting and investigation of certain misconduct and child abuse and neglect; creating a criminal offense., is a 89th Legislature Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Paul Bettencourt (Republican), Brad Buckley, Brandon Creighton (Republican) and 9 others; status signed, last action 2025-06-20 (Effective immediately) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB571-89R - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Texas SB 571 - State: Texas - Session: 89th Legislature Regular Session - Title: Relating to the reporting and investigation of certain misconduct and child abuse and neglect; creating a criminal offense. - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2024-12-12 - Last action: 2025-06-20, Effective immediately - Sponsors: Paul Bettencourt (Republican), Brad Buckley, Brandon Creighton (Republican), Pete Flores (Republican), James Frank, Jeff Leach, Mayes Middleton (Republican), Candy Noble, Tan Parker (Republican), Angela Paxton (Republican), Royce West (Democratic), Judith Zaffirini (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 7 - Subjects: Education--Primary & Secondary--General, Education--Primary & Secondary--Other School Personnel, Education--Primary & Secondary--Teachers, Electronic Information Systems, Family--Child Protection, Labor--General, Minors--Health & Safety, Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions, State Agencies, Boards & Commissions, CHILD ABUSE, SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, STATE OFFICE OF, EDUCATION AGENCY, TEXAS, EDUCATION, COMMISSIONER OF, EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION, STATE BOARD FOR - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 8 (443 yes, 16 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 16 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Parents get school misconduct notices: benefit, medium. Schools must adopt a policy to notify parents about specified misconduct allegations involving their child and an employee or service provider. Schools must share the allegation information as soon as feasible after learning the misconduct may have occurred. Notices must explain whether the person… - More convictions trigger educator oversight rules: benefit, low. The law expands the convictions covered by educator-related rules, including specified convictions and deferred adjudications. Added categories include listed sex-offender-registration crimes, improper educator-student relationships, harmful material offenses, obscenity-related felonies, and feloni… - Criminal Records Bar Some School Workers: cost, high. Texas educational entities must reject or discharge workers with covered criminal records, including specified sexual offenses and felonies involving school property. Hiring and educator certificate bans cover convictions or deferred adjudication for one listed offense group; the separate Title 5 f… - More Grounds to Fire School Workers: cost, high. Districts and open-enrollment charters may act on felony convictions or deferred adjudication outside the law’s mandatory employment-action rules. This applies to employees with Chapter 21 probationary, continuing, or term contracts. With governing-body or designee approval, schools may suspend the… - Registry listings bar school work and services: cost, high. Covered education entities must fire or refuse to hire listed people and must end or refuse their services. The ban includes temporary listings and covered certificate suspensions; it ends when listing expires and any required credential reinstatement occurs. Private schools, approved tutoring grou… - School leaders face reporting deadlines and penalties: cost, medium. Beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, reporting rules cover educators, noncertified staff, student-facing service providers, and covered charter programs. Principals and school leaders face 48-hour deadlines for specified misconduct evidence; other educator-reporting triggers allow seven busine… - School Leaders Face Felonies for Concealment: cost, low. Superintendents and directors commit a state jail felony by missing required report deadlines to hide covered criminal records or misconduct allegations. Principals commit the same offense by missing required notice deadlines to hide covered misconduct allegations. The person must have the reportin… - Schools face stronger state compliance enforcement: cost, low. The education agency must periodically check covered records and review whether schools use proper misconduct investigation steps and agency coordination. It can monitor compliance despite general limits on state monitoring of school programs. Failures to follow proper steps, provide requested evid… - School applicants face disclosures and protections: mixed, high. School job and service applicants must consent to release of employment records and submit a sworn history statement. It must cover listed investigations, criminal cases, licensing actions, registry listings, school work, and firings or resignations instead of firing. Applicants must explain positi… - School workers face emergency bans with hearings: mixed, high. A continuing and imminent threat finding requires temporary registry placement or educator credential suspension, depending on the agency's authority. Credential findings require a majority vote by the certification board or its designated five-member committee. Action without advance notice or a h… - School misconduct cases get hearings and notices: mixed, medium. A secure state portal accepts confidential reports and separates registry listings from notices that people are under investigation. When feasible, officials must decide within 30 days whether to post an allegation or investigation notice. Covered people, including some noncertified private-school… - Public Misconduct Notices With Educator Safeguards: mixed, medium. The certification board must post a public notice when it finds an allegation presents a risk to a student’s or minor’s health, safety, or welfare. It must notify the educator and the education agency, which immediately lists the educator as under investigation. Educators have an opportunity to res… - Abuse reports reach agencies and schools faster: mixed, low. Police and child-protection agencies must immediately share specified abuse or neglect reports through required referrals and notices. Child-protection officials must refer cases involving someone not responsible for the child to police, who decide whether to investigate. When an investigation invo… - Broader abuse rules require faster professional reports: mixed, low. School misconduct rules define abuse to include any sexual conduct involving a student or minor, not just conduct by educators. Child-abuse law also expressly includes the crime of an improper educator-student relationship. Covered professionals must report suspected abuse or neglect within 24 hour… - Private schools and providers face reporting duties: mixed, low. Private-school chiefs must report evidence of specified misconduct by workers or job applicants within 48 hours through the state portal. If a worker resigns before the investigation ends, chiefs must send the evidence collected; victims' names remain nonpublic. People making covered private-school… - School investigations gain powers and privacy rules: mixed, low. The education agency can investigate specified misconduct without receiving a report or complaint. The commissioner can compel relevant Texas-based witnesses and evidence, serve orders electronically, and generally require responses through the portal. Investigation and subpoena records remain conf… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Paul Bettencourt (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Brad Buckley, House - Sponsor: Brandon Creighton (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Pete Flores (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: James Frank, House - Sponsor: Jeff Leach, House - Sponsor: Mayes Middleton (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Candy Noble, House - Sponsor: Tan Parker (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Angela Paxton (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Royce West (Democratic), Senate - Sponsor: Judith Zaffirini (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Brian Birdwell (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Donna Campbell (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Adam Hinojosa (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Phil King (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Lois Kolkhorst (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Kevin Sparks (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-05-30 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 30 | 1 | | | 2025-05-28 | House | Record vote | pass | 126 | 10 | | | 2025-05-27 | House | Record vote | pass | 131 | 2 | | | 2025-05-27 | House | Record vote | pass | 134 | 2 | | | 2025-05-08 | Senate | Record vote | pass | | | | | 2025-05-08 | Senate | Record vote | pass | | | | | | House | Committee vote: Public Education | pass | 11 | 1 | | | | Senate | Committee vote: Education K-16 | pass | 11 | 0 | | ## Actions (70) - 2025-06-20: Effective immediately (House) - 2025-06-20: Signed by the Governor (House) - 2025-06-03: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2025-06-02: Signed in the House (House) - 2025-06-02: Signed in the Senate (Senate) - 2025-06-02: Reported enrolled (Senate) - 2025-05-31: Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported (House) - 2025-05-30: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-05-30: Senate concurs in House amendment(s) (Senate) - 2025-05-30: Read (Senate) - 2025-05-30: House amendment(s) laid before the Senate (Senate) - 2025-05-28: House passage as amended reported (Senate) - 2025-05-28: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-28: Record vote (RV#3841) (House) - 2025-05-28: Passed (House) - 2025-05-28: Read 3rd time (House) - 2025-05-28: Additional sponsor(s) authorized (House) - 2025-05-28: Rules suspended (House) - 2025-05-27: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-27: Record vote (RV#3701) (House) - 2025-05-27: Passed to 3rd reading as amended (House) - 2025-05-27: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House) - 2025-05-27: Record vote (RV#3700) (House) - 2025-05-27: Amended (1-Leach) (House) - 2025-05-27: Read 2nd time (House) - 2025-05-24: Placed on General State Calendar (House) - 2025-05-22: Considered in Calendars (House) - 2025-05-20: Committee report sent to Calendars (House) - 2025-05-19: Committee report distributed (House) - 2025-05-19: Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (House) - 2025-05-16: Reported favorably w/o amendment(s) (House) - 2025-05-16: Considered in formal meeting (House) - 2025-05-15: Left pending in committee (House) - 2025-05-15: Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee (House) - 2025-05-15: Considered in public hearing (House) - 2025-05-15: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (House) - 2025-05-14: Posting rule suspended (House) - 2025-05-13: No action taken in committee (House) - 2025-05-13: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (House) - 2025-05-12: Posting rule suspended (House) - 2025-05-10: Referred to Public Education (House) - 2025-05-10: Read first time (House) - 2025-05-08: Received from the Senate (House) - 2025-05-08: Reported engrossed (Senate) - 2025-05-08: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-05-08: Passed (Senate) - 2025-05-08: Read 3rd time (Senate) - 2025-05-08: Record vote (Senate) - 2025-05-08: Three day rule suspended (Senate) - 2025-05-08: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-05-08: Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment (Senate) - 2025-05-08: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate) - 2025-05-08: Rules suspended-Regular order of business (Senate) - 2025-05-08: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-05-07: Placed on intent calendar (Senate) - 2025-05-07: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-05-05: Committee report printed and distributed (Senate) - 2025-05-05: Reported favorably as substituted (Senate) - 2025-04-29: Vote taken in committee (Senate) - 2025-04-29: Considered in public hearing (Senate) - 2025-04-23: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-04-10: Co-author authorized (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Left pending in committee (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Testimony taken in committee (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Considered in public hearing (Senate) - 2025-04-08: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (Senate) - 2025-02-03: Referred to Education K-16 (Senate) - 2025-02-03: Read first time (Senate) - 2024-12-12: Filed (Senate) - 2024-12-12: Received by the Secretary of the Senate (Senate) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00571E.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00571E.PDF) - Enrolled: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00571F.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00571F.PDF) - House Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00571H.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00571H.PDF) - Introduced: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00571I.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00571I.PDF) - Senate Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00571S.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00571S.PDF) ## Related bills - SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proceedings before a magistrate including the appointment of counsel for an indigent… (vetoed) - SB 1838: 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… (vetoed) - SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; req… (vetoed) - SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court… (vetoed) - SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans. (signed) - HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry. (became law) ## Sources - [Engrossed (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00571E.HTM) - [Engrossed (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00571E.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00571F.HTM) - [Enrolled (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00571F.PDF) - [House Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00571H.HTM) - [House Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00571H.PDF) - [Introduced (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00571I.HTM) - [Introduced (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00571I.PDF) - [Senate Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00571S.HTM) - [Senate Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00571S.PDF) ## Related - [SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proce…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2111-89R) - [SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certa…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1838-89R) - [SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB3-89R) - [SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures re…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2878-89R) - [SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB646-89R) - [HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB4325-89R) - [Texas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas/bills) - [Texas state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB571-89R (as of 2026-10-19).