HB 4656

Vasut’s bill presuming parents act in the child’s best interest

Companion SB 2052 became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

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 determination of the best interest of the child in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

In custody fights with nonparents, the parent starts ahead.

The bill writes into the Family Code a presumption that a parent acts in the child's best interest and that a child is best off in a parent's care when a parent is fighting a nonparent for custody or access. A nonparent such as a grandparent or other relative can beat that presumption only with clear and convincing evidence that denying their request would significantly impair the child's physical health or emotional development. The same presumption applies when a nonparent seeks to modify an existing order, unless the earlier order already found the presumption rebutted, and the change applies to pending and new cases starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 1986 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4656 · 2025-03-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Cody VasutRHouse 25

Rep. David CookRHouse 96

ITEM

relating to the determination of the best interest of the child in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.

WHAT IT DOES

In custody fights with nonparents, the parent starts ahead.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · April 30, 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

Mar 12, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 2025Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by Speaker
Apr 22, 2025Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
Apr 22, 2025Considered by s/c in public hearing
Apr 22, 2025Committee substitute considered in s/c
Apr 22, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
Apr 22, 2025Left pending in subcommittee
Apr 28, 2025Recalled from subcommittee
Apr 28, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 28, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
Apr 28, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
May 8, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 8, 2025Committee report distributed
May 8, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 9, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 11, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 14, 2025Companion considered in lieu of SB 2052
May 14, 2025Laid on the table subject to call

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Cody Vasut

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$40K Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$13K Texas Food & Fuel Assn. - PAC$11K

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 29, 2024 to Oct 19, 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$40,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$40,000.00

Cash: $40,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $40,000.00

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 27, 2025 to Oct 7, 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: 101005740, 101033392, 101072869.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$12,750.00

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$12,750.00

Cash: $12,500.00
Paid by others: $250.00
Total: $12,750.00

advertising $250.00

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 · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 100981647, 101005740, 101062767, 101072869.

Texas Food & Fuel Assn. - PAC$11,000.00

Texas Food & Fuel Assn. - PAC

$11,000.00

Cash: $11,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $11,000.00

Also funds 65 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jun 2, 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: 100981647, 101033392, 101062767.

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$40,000.00

Cash: $40,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $40,000.00

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 27, 2025 to Oct 7, 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: 101005740, 101033392, 101072869.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$12,750.00

Cash: $12,500.00
Paid by others: $250.00
Total: $12,750.00

advertising $250.00

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 · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 100981647, 101005740, 101062767, 101072869.

Texas Food & Fuel Assn. - PAC

$11,000.00

Cash: $11,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $11,000.00

Also funds 65 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 3, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Jun 2, 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: 100981647, 101033392, 101062767.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses13

For: 12
Against: 0
On: 1

Names

For

Self7 registrations
Self; Family Freedom Project1 registration
Self; Texas Association of Family Defense Attorneys1 registration
Self; Texas Family Law Foundation1 registration
Texas Family Law Foundation1 registration
Texas Public Policy Foundation1 registration

On

Dept. of Family and Protective Services1 registration

Sources

13 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 H · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version H · April 30, 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.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 1986

by Rep. Vasut, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, Mar 8, 2023: Referred to Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Relating to the determination of the best interest of a child in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 12, 2025

05/14/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

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

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

Companion

SB 2052 by Birdwell (identical)

Subjects

Family--Parent & Child

CHILD CUSTODY

Text

The text as introduced · 297 words

89R16344 AMF-F

By: Vasut
H.B. No. 4656

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the determination of the best interest of the child in

certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship.

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

SECTION 1. Section 153.002, Family Code, is amended to read

as follows:

Sec. 153.002. BEST INTEREST OF CHILD. (a) The best

interest of the child shall always be the primary consideration of

the court in determining the issues of conservatorship and

possession of and access to the child.

(b) In a suit between a parent and a nonparent, it is a

rebuttable presumption that:

(1) a parent acts in the best interest of the parent's

child; and

(2) it is in the best interest of a child to be in the

care, custody, and control of a parent.

(c) In a suit between a parent and a nonparent, the

nonparent may overcome the presumption under Subsection (b) by

proving by clear and convincing evidence that denial of the relief

requested by the nonparent would significantly impair the child's

physical health or emotional development.

SECTION 2. Section 156.101, Family Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c) In a suit for modification between a parent and a

nonparent, the presumption under Section 153.002(b) applies. The

presumption is rebutted if, in the order subject to modification,

the presumption was rebutted with respect to the child who is the

subject of the suit.

SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a

suit affecting the parent-child relationship that is pending in a

trial court on or after the effective date of this Act or filed on or

after that date.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.