Monitoring the Session

HB 3783

Hull Bill Opens Every Earlier Custody Order To Change

Became law

Verdict: Smells

SmellsReviewed
Rep. Lacey HullRHouse 138
Why it's charged
Caption mismatch

THE TEXT

…“amended by this Act, constitutes a material and substantial change”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption speaks only to court-ordered counseling, but this section makes the law change itself a ground to modify any earlier possession or access order. That reaches custody orders that may have nothing to do with counseling.

Caption mismatch

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to court-ordered counseling in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Caption: counseling. Bill: the law change itself counts as “a material and substantial change.”

The bill rewrites the Family Code rule on court-ordered family counseling in custody cases so counselors must have training in family violence, and judges must weigh any history of domestic violence or sexual abuse before ordering counseling. It bars courts from ordering abuse victims into counseling with the abusing party and from ordering any program that requires no-contact orders with the aligned parent, overnight or out-of-state stays, custody transfers, forceful private transporters, or coercion and isolation of the child. It also drops the court's power to order a party to pay for counseling, applies to pending cases, and declares the change a ground to reopen custody and visitation orders entered before it takes effect.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on Jun 20, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 4 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3783 · 2025-03-05

SOLD BY

Rep. Lacey HullRHouse 138 Rep. Angelia OrrRHouse 13 Rep. Shelby SlawsonRHouse 59

+ 2 more authors, 3 coauthors

ITEM

relating to court-ordered counseling in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

WHAT IT DOES

Caption: counseling. Bill: the law change itself counts as “a material and substantial change.”

The bill rewrites the Family Code rule on court-ordered family counseling in custody cases so counselors must have training in family violence, and judges must weigh any history of domestic violence or sexual abuse before ordering counseling. It bars courts from ordering abuse victims into counseling with the abusing party and from ordering any program that requires no-contact orders with the aligned parent, overnight or out-of-state stays, custody transfers, forceful private transporters, or coercion and isolation of the child. It also drops the court's power to order a party to pay for counseling, applies to pending cases, and declares the change a ground to reopen custody and visitation orders entered before it takes effect.

CHARGES

[x] CAPTION MISMATCHanalysis confidence 40%

THE TEXT

…“amended by this Act, constitutes a material and substantial change”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption speaks only to court-ordered counseling, but this section makes the law change itself a ground to modify any earlier possession or access order. That reaches custody orders that may have nothing to do with counseling.

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 28, 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 formal meeting
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Postponed 5/5/25 2:00 PM
  19. Laid out as postponed business
  20. Passed to engrossment
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote RV#1419
  24. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  25. Reported engrossed
  26. Received from the House
  27. Read first time
  28. Referred to Jurisprudence
  29. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  30. Considered in public hearing
  31. Testimony taken in committee
  32. Left pending in committee
  33. Considered in public hearing
  34. Vote taken in committee
  35. Reported favorably as substituted
  36. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  37. Committee report printed and distributed
  38. Placed on intent calendar
  39. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  40. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  41. Vote recorded in Journal
  42. Three day rule suspended
  43. Record vote
  44. Read 3rd time
  45. Passed
  46. Record vote
  47. Senate passage as amended reported
  48. Senate Amendments distributed
  49. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  50. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  51. Record vote RV#4043
  52. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  53. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  54. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  55. Reported enrolled
  56. Signed in the House
  57. Signed in the Senate
  58. Sent to the Governor
  59. Signed by the Governor
  60. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 143 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 6, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 27, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

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.

Votes5

House May 29, 2025

Yea
128
Nay
7
Present, not voting
1
Absent
8
Excused
6
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 4043

Representative Hull moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 3783. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 3783 prevailed by (Record 4043): 128 Yeas, 7 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 128 (published)
  • Nay: 7 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 8 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 27, 2025

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.

Sources

Senator Parker moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 3783 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 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 27, 2025

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.

Sources

Senator Parker moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 3783 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 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 27, 2025

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.

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

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

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 6, 2025

Yea
143
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
6
Excused
0
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1419

HB 3783 was passed by (Record 1419): 143 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 143 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses35
For
25
Against
7
On
3
Names

For

  • Buckner International1 registration
  • Self16 registrations
  • Self; Every Body Texas1 registration
  • Self; Texas Advocacy Project1 registration
  • Texas Association Against Sexual Assault1 registration
  • Texas CASA1 registration
  • Texas Council on Family Violence1 registration
  • Texas council on family violence1 registration
  • Texas Family Law Foundation1 registration
  • The National Association of Social Workers- Texas Chapter1 registration

Against

  • Self6 registrations
  • Self; National Parents Organization1 registration

On

  • Self3 registrations
Sources

35 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 28, 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 Mar 5, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective immediately

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

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 1:53 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Josey GarciaDHouse 124 Donna HowardDHouse 48 Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148
Sponsors
Tan ParkerRSenate 12

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

Senate committee · Jurisprudence · Committee vote 5 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Family--Family Violence

Family--Parent & Child

Minors--Health & Safety

CHILD ABUSE

COUNSELING & THERAPY

SEXUAL ABUSE

Text

The text as introduced · 522 words

By: Hull
H.B. No. 3783

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to court-ordered counseling in a suit affecting the

parent-child relationship.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 153, Family Code, is

amended by amending Sections 153.010 to read as follows:

Sec. 153.010. ORDER FOR FAMILY COUNSELING. (a) If the

court finds at the time of a hearing that the parties have a history

of conflict in resolving an issue of conservatorship or possession

of or access to the child, the court may order a party to:

(1) participate in counseling with a mental health

professional who:

(A) has a background in family therapy;

(B) has a mental health license that requires as

a minimum a master's degree; and

(C) has training in the dynamics of family

violence; [ domestic violence if the court determines that the

training is relevant to the type of counseling needed; and ]

(2) Shall consider the history of domestic violence or

sexual abuse as outlined in Section 153.004 of the Texas Family Code

in determining whether to order family counseling. If such

evidence exists, the victim(s) of the abuse shall not be ordered to

participate in any type of counseling with the offending party; and

[ pay the cost of counseling. ]

(3) May not order any form of counseling that, as a

condition of enrollment or participation, includes any of the

following:

(A) a no-contact order with the aligned parent or

any family members;

(B) an overnight, out-of-state, or multi-day

stay for the child;

(C) a transfer of physical or legal custody of

the child;

(D) the use of private transporters or private

transportation agents who engage in the use of force, threats of

force, physical obstruction, or any circumstances that place the

safety of the child at risk; or

(E) the use of threats of physical force, undue

coercion, verbal abuse, or the isolation of the child from the

child's family, community, education, religion or other sources of

support.

(b) If a person possessing the requirements of Subsection

(a)(1) is not available in the county in which the court presides,

the court may appoint a person the court believes is qualified to

conduct the counseling ordered under Subsection (a).

SECTION 2. Section 153.010, Family Code, as amended by this

Act, applies to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship that

is pending in a trial court on the effective date of this Act or

filed on or after that date.

SECTION 3. The changes to Section 153.010, Family Code, as

amended by this Act, constitutes a material and substantial change

of circumstances sufficient to warrant modification of a court

order or portion of a decree that provides for the possession of or

access to a child rendered before the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.