Monitoring the Session

HB 2070

bill requiring a court finding before child abuse registry listing

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Lacey HullRHouse 138

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 a required court finding of abuse or neglect before an individual's name is added to the central child abuse or neglect registry.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

The agency’s own finding isn’t enough. A court order comes first.

The bill bars the state child protective agency from putting a person's name on the central child abuse or neglect registry based only on its own finding. A court must first enter a final order in a civil, criminal, or juvenile case finding that the person abused or neglected the child. This applies to agency findings made on or after September 1, 2025, so parents and caregivers with new agency findings stay off the registry unless a court rules against them.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 4 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on May 15, 2025. Died in the Senate: left pending in the Health & Human Services committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB2070 · 2025-01-24

SOLD BY

Rep. Lacey HullRHouse 138 Rep. Nicole CollierDHouse 95 Rep. Shelby SlawsonRHouse 59

+ 2 more authors, 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to a required court finding of abuse or neglect before an individual's name is added to the central child abuse or neglect registry.

WHAT IT DOES

The agency’s own finding isn’t enough. A court order comes first.

The bill bars the state child protective agency from putting a person's name on the central child abuse or neglect registry based only on its own finding. A court must first enter a final order in a civil, criminal, or juvenile case finding that the person abused or neglected the child. This applies to agency findings made on or after September 1, 2025, so parents and caregivers with new agency findings stay off the registry unless a court rules against them.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 20, 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 Human Services
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Committee substitute considered in committee
  10. Reported favorably as substituted
  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. Point of order withdrawn Rule 4, Section 32(c)(1)
  18. Passed to engrossment
  19. Record vote RV#2588
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Amended 1-J. González
  23. Passed as amended
  24. Record vote RV#2691
  25. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  26. Reported engrossed
  27. Received from the House
  28. Read first time
  29. Referred to Health & Human Services
  30. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  31. Considered in public hearing
  32. Testimony taken in committee
  33. Left pending in committee
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 141 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 15, 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

Lacey Hull

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$595KTexas Conservative Majority PAC$483KTexas Sands PAC$245K

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$595,376.10

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$595,376.10

Cash
$80,000.00
Paid by others
$515,376.10
Total
$595,376.10
mail $216,305.25advertising $185,974.50Other filed descriptions $66,286.00polling $46,810.35

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 30, 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: 101010359, 101033114, 101035066, 101040912, 101044098, 101069436, 101072848.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$483,456.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$483,456.00

Cash
$150,000.00
Paid by others
$333,456.00
Total
$483,456.00
canvassing $316,956.00polling $16,500.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 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: 101040912, 101069436, 101072848.

Texas Sands PAC$244,600.00

Texas Sands PAC

$244,600.00

Cash
$234,000.00
Paid by others
$10,600.00
Total
$244,600.00
polling $10,600.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jan 14, 2026 to Sep 25, 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: 101035066, 101040912, 101072848.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$595,376.10

Cash
$80,000.00
Paid by others
$515,376.10
Total
$595,376.10
mail $216,305.25advertising $185,974.50Other filed descriptions $66,286.00polling $46,810.35

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 30, 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: 101010359, 101033114, 101035066, 101040912, 101044098, 101069436, 101072848.

×

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$483,456.00

Cash
$150,000.00
Paid by others
$333,456.00
Total
$483,456.00
canvassing $316,956.00polling $16,500.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

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

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 13, 2026 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: 101040912, 101069436, 101072848.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$244,600.00

Cash
$234,000.00
Paid by others
$10,600.00
Total
$244,600.00
polling $10,600.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jan 14, 2026 to Sep 25, 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: 101035066, 101040912, 101072848.

Votes2

House May 15, 2025

Yea
141
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
3
Excused
5
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2691

HB 2070, as amended, was passed by (Record 2691): 141 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 141 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

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

House May 14, 2025

Yea
126
Nay
1
Present, not voting
3
Absent
14
Excused
6
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2588

CSHB 2070 was passed to engrossment by (Record 2588): 126 Yeas, 1 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 126 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 3 (published)
  • Absent: 14 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses6
For
5
Against
0
On
1
Names

For

  • Family Freedom Project1 registration
  • Parent Guidance Center1 registration
  • Self1 registration
  • Self; Texas Association of Family Defense Attorneys1 registration
  • Texas Public Policy Foundation1 registration

On

  • DFPS Resource Witness1 registration
Sources

6 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.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 20, 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 24, 2025

05/21/2025 S Left pending in committee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

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

Coauthors
David LoweRHouse 91 Keresa RichardsonRHouse 61
Sponsors
Brian BirdwellRSenate 22

House committee · Human Services · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Family--Child Protection

CHILD ABUSE

FAMILY & PROTECTIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 209 words

89R9281 RAL-F

By: Hull
H.B. No. 2070

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a required court finding of abuse or neglect before an

individual's name is added to the central child abuse or neglect

registry.

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

SECTION 1. Section 261.002, Family Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) The department may not add to the central registry

maintained under this section the name of an individual found by the

department to have abused or neglected a child unless a court of

competent jurisdiction enters a final order in a civil, criminal,

or juvenile proceeding in which the court finds the individual

abused or neglected the child.

SECTION 2. Section 261.002(a-1), Family Code, as added by

this Act, applies only to a finding that an individual abused or

neglected a child made by the Department of Family and Protective

Services on or after the effective date of this Act. A finding made

by the department before that date is governed by the law in effect

on the date the finding was made, and the former law is continued in

effect for that purpose.

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