Texas Child Protection Law Bench Book

Updated September 2025

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

This edition of the Texas Child Welfare Law Bench Book (Bench Book) includes legislative updates enacted in the 89^th Texas Regular Legislative Session. The 2025 edition is organized into the following sections: Statutory, Legal Essentials, Federal, Health, Well-being, Safety, System Issues, and Family Connections. The content was updated in September 2025.

This project is supported by the Court Improvement Program grant, awarded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families to the Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families (Children's Commission). The information in this publication was developed by the Bench Book Advisory Committee and the staff of the Children's Commission. Any resource materials or other written contributions provided by the Children's Commission should not be read as an advisory issued by the Supreme Court of Texas or any other court. Contributions to this Bench Book are not rulings on specific cases or legal issues but are solely intended to address the improvement of the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice related to child welfare cases.

Children's Commission Staff:

Jessica Arguijo, Communications Manager

Jamie Bernstein, Executive Director

Renée Castillo-De La Cruz, Staff Attorney

Tiffany Edwards, Program Specialist

Brenda Kinsler, Staff Attorney

Chelsea Martinez, Program Specialist

Patrick Passmore, Finance Manager

Milbrey Raney, Assistant Director

Willette Sedwick, Accountant

Andrea Vicencio, Program Specialist

The Honorable Robert Hofmann, Senior Jurist in Residence

The Honorable Piper McCraw, Jurist in Residence