HB 3854
child abuse reports go to law enforcement and the state
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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 the reporting of child abuse or neglect.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Both get the report, instead of just one of them.
The bill changes where a child abuse or neglect report must go, so that a report goes to both a law enforcement agency and the state's child protective department instead of just one of them. It touches anyone required to report suspected abuse or neglect, including school staff, and lets reporters also notify the state agency that licenses a facility where abuse happened. Starting September 1, 2025, abuse suspected at a public school must also be reported to the Texas Education Agency, and one existing subsection of the reporting law is repealed.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 5, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB3854 · 2025-03-05
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the reporting of child abuse or neglect.
WHAT IT DOES
Both get the report, instead of just one of them.
The bill changes where a child abuse or neglect report must go, so that a report goes to both a law enforcement agency and the state's child protective department instead of just one of them. It touches anyone required to report suspected abuse or neglect, including school staff, and lets reporters also notify the state agency that licenses a facility where abuse happened. Starting September 1, 2025, abuse suspected at a public school must also be reported to the Texas Education Agency, and one existing subsection of the reporting law is repealed.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Derived from itemized gifts, Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
$113,206 raised in 4 of 4 reports since Oct 27, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Oct 27, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure. Partial total. Regular reports do not cover Jul 9, 2025 to Aug 15, 2025, Aug 15, 2025 to Sep 4, 2025.
$220,212 spent since Oct 27, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Oct 27, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure.
$54,238 cash on hand. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
$0 loans outstanding. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived sum of itemized contributions in regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Unitemized contributions are not included. Flow, Oct 27, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
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
03/27/2025 H Referred to State Affairs: Mar 27 2025 11:57AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Education--Primary & Secondary--General
Family--Child Protection
Law Enforcement
CHILD ABUSE
Text
The text as introduced · 208 words
89R16033 MM-D By: Schatzline H.B. No. 3854 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the reporting of child abuse or neglect. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 261.103, Family Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (d) to read as follows: (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section [ Subsections (b) and (c) ] and Section 261.405, a report shall be made to: (1) any local or state law enforcement agency; and (2) the department . (a-1) If the alleged abuse or neglect occurred in a facility operated, licensed, certified, or registered by a state agency, a report may be made to [ ; or [ (3) ] the state agency that operates, licenses, certifies, or registers the facility in which the alleged abuse or neglect occurred in addition to the entities listed under Subsection (a) . (d) A report must be made to the Texas Education Agency in addition to the entities listed under Subsection (a) if the report is based on alleged or suspected abuse or neglect that occurred at a public school. SECTION 2. Section 261.103(c), Family Code, is repealed. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.