bill lets family violence protective orders run past two years

The text as introduced · 316 words

89R5811 AMF-D

By: Moody
H.B. No. 1863

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the duration of a protective order against family

violence.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 85.025(a-1), Family Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a-1) The court may render a protective order applying only

to a person found to have committed family violence sufficient to

protect the applicant and members of the applicant's family or

household that is effective for a period that exceeds two years and

may be for the lives of the persons protected by the protective

order and the person who is the subject of the protective order [ if

the court finds that the person who is the subject of the protective

order:

[ (1) committed an act constituting a felony offense

involving family violence against the applicant or a member of the

applicant's family or household, regardless of whether the person

has been charged with or convicted of the offense;

[ (2) caused serious bodily injury to the applicant or

a member of the applicant's family or household; or

[ (3) was the subject of two or more previous

protective orders rendered:

[ (A) to protect the person on whose behalf the

current protective order is sought; and

[ (B) after a finding by the court that the

subject of the protective order has committed family violence ].

SECTION 2. Section 85.001(d), Family Code, is repealed.

SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to a protective order rendered on or after the effective date of

this Act. A protective order rendered before the effective date of

this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the order is

rendered, and the former law is continued in effect for that

purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.