Monitoring the Session

HB 1973

bill requiring a birth certificate in parent-child suits

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. David CookRHouse 96

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to proof of the identity of a child's parents in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

A certified copy, if the filer has one.

The bill requires a person who files a custody, support or other parent-child suit to give the court a certified copy of the child's birth certificate if they have one. If the filer does not have it, or the certificate does not name both parents, the court may ask any other party for the certificate or for other proof of who the parents are, and the court must keep those documents confidential. The state child support agency is exempt when it files these suits, and the rule applies only to suits filed on or after September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: BUZZER BEATER. Final vote May 30, 2025: the House concurred in the Senate amendments. 3 days before the session ended Jun 2, 2025.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author David Cook (R) in the House. Lead sponsor Judith Zaffirini (D) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1973 · 2025-01-22

SOLD BY

Rep. David CookRHouse 96

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to proof of the identity of a child's parents in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

WHAT IT DOES

A certified copy, if the filer has one.

The bill requires a person who files a custody, support or other parent-child suit to give the court a certified copy of the child's birth certificate if they have one. If the filer does not have it, or the certificate does not name both parents, the court may ask any other party for the certificate or for other proof of who the parents are, and the court must keep those documents confidential. The state child support agency is exempt when it files these suits, and the rule applies only to suits filed on or after September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 29, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by Speaker
  4. Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
  5. Considered by s/c in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
  7. Left pending in subcommittee
  8. Recalled from subcommittee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  11. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  12. Committee report distributed
  13. Committee report sent to Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
  15. Placed on General State Calendar
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Passed to engrossment
  18. Record vote RV#1193
  19. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote RV#1299
  23. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the House
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to Jurisprudence
  28. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  29. Considered in public hearing
  30. Vote taken in committee
  31. Reported favorably as substituted
  32. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  33. Committee report printed and distributed
  34. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  35. Laid before the Senate
  36. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  37. Vote recorded in Journal
  38. Three day rule suspended
  39. Record vote
  40. Read 3rd time
  41. Passed
  42. Record vote
  43. Senate passage as amended reported
  44. Senate Amendments distributed
  45. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  46. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  47. Record vote RV#4069
  48. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  49. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  50. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  51. Reported enrolled
  52. Signed in the House
  53. Signed in the Senate
  54. Sent to the Governor
  55. Signed by the Governor
  56. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 133 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 2, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

David Cook

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$350KGOPAC Election Fund$115KTexas REALTORS Political Action Committee$60K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$350,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$350,000.00

Cash
$350,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$350,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012315, 101037124, 101037559, 101066332, 101070691.

GOPAC Election Fund$115,000.00

GOPAC Election Fund

$115,000.00

Cash
$115,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$115,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101066332.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$60,000.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 12, 2025 to Jul 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101037124, 101037559, 101066332.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$350,000.00

Cash
$350,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$350,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101012315, 101037124, 101037559, 101066332, 101070691.

×

GOPAC Election Fund

$115,000.00

Cash
$115,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$115,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 20, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101066332.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 12, 2025 to Jul 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101037124, 101037559, 101066332.

Votes6

House May 30, 2025

Yea
133
Nay
2
Present, not voting
2
Absent
7
Excused
6
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 4069

Representative Cook moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 1973. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 1973 prevailed by (Record 4069): 133 Yeas, 2 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 133 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 28, 2025

Final passage

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSHB 1973 (Zaffirini) Relating to proof of the identity of a child's parents in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 28, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSHB 1973 (Zaffirini) Relating to proof of the identity of a child's parents in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 28, 2025

Passage to third reading

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to third reading. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

CSHB 1973 (Zaffirini) Relating to proof of the identity of a child's parents in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 2, 2025

Yea
133
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
4
Excused
12
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1299

HB 1973 was passed by (Record 1299): 133 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 133 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 12 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 1, 2025

Yea
142
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
3
Excused
3
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1193

HB 1973 was passed to engrossment by (Record 1193): 142 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 142 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses5
For
1
Against
1
On
3
Names

For

  • The County and District Clerks’ Association of Texas1 registration

Against

  • Self1 registration

On

  • Self3 registrations
Sources

5 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 29, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Jan 22, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148
Sponsors
Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

House committee · Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Jurisprudence · Committee vote 4 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Aliens

Courts--General

Family--Parent & Child

BIRTH & DEATH CERTIFICATES

Text

The text as introduced · 360 words

89R2384 AMF-D

By: Cook
H.B. No. 1973

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to proof of the identity of a child's parents in a suit

affecting the parent-child relationship.

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

SECTION 1. Section 102.008, Family Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (d) to read as

follows:

(c-1) The petitioner shall additionally submit to the court

a certified copy of the child's birth certificate if available to

the petitioner. If a certified copy of the child's birth

certificate is not available to the petitioner, the court at any

time during the pendency of the suit may request another party to

whom a certified copy of the child's birth certificate is available

to submit a copy to the court. If a certified copy of the child's

birth certificate is not available to any party or if the copy does

not name both of the child's parents, the court may request from any

party at any time during the pendency of the suit alternative proof

of the identity of the child's parents. The court shall keep

confidential any certificate or other proof submitted under this

subsection.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if

the Title IV-D agency files a petition in a suit affecting the

parent-child relationship, the agency is not required to:

(1) include in the petition the statement described by

Subsection (b)(11); [ or ]

(2) attach copies of the documentation described by

Subsection (c) ; or

(3) submit to the court a copy of a child's birth

certificate or other proof of the identity of the child's parents as

described by Subsection (c-1) .

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a

suit affecting the parent-child relationship that is filed on or

after the effective date of this Act. A suit affecting the

parent-child relationship filed before the effective date of this

Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the suit was filed,

and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.