The bill requires the state registrar to give a county a certified copy of a birth record for free when the county asks for it. The free copy applies only when the request is tied to a child-custody or parental-rights case filed by a government entity under the Family Code's child protection subtitle. Counties handling those cases stop paying the state fee for birth records starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Hillary Hickland (R) in the House. Lead sponsor Judith Zaffirini (D) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.QUICK READ: 113 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 113 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).
relating to restrictions on the fee assessed for issuance of
certain birth records.
WHAT IT DOES
Only when a government entity files the case.
The bill requires the state registrar to give a county a certified copy of a birth record for free when the county asks for it. The free copy applies only when the request is tied to a child-custody or parental-rights case filed by a government entity under the Family Code's child protection subtitle. Counties handling those cases stop paying the state fee for birth records starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
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
HB 4466 (Zaffirini) Relating to restrictions on the fee assessed for issuance of certain birth records. (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.
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
HB 4466 (Zaffirini) Relating to restrictions on the fee assessed for issuance of certain birth records. (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.
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
HB 4466 (Zaffirini) Relating to restrictions on the fee assessed for issuance of certain birth records. (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 committee · Public Health · Committee vote 13 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee
Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee
Subjects
Family--Child Protection
Fees & Other Nontax Revenue--Local
Fees & Other Nontax Revenue--State
Health--Privacy/Use of Information
BIRTH & DEATH CERTIFICATES
Text
The text as introduced · 113 words
89R15535 EAS-F
By: Hickland
H.B. No. 4466
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to restrictions on the fee assessed for issuance of
certain birth records.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 191.0046, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
(g) The state registrar, on request of a county, shall issue
without a fee a certified copy of a birth record to the county if the
request is related to a suit affecting the parent-child
relationship filed by a governmental entity under Subtitle E, Title
5, Family Code.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring 
