HB 4969
child welfare providers who win conscience cases get legal fees
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 remedies for a cause of action brought by a child welfare services provider for an adverse action taken against the provider in violation of the provider's rights of conscience.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
The losing side pays attorney’s fees and court costs.
The bill lets a child welfare services provider that wins a rights-of-conscience claim or defense under existing Human Resources Code Chapter 45 recover reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. It touches child welfare providers and the state or other parties that take adverse action against them over conscience-based practices. On the ground, a provider that prevails in such a case can make the losing side pay its legal bills, on top of the remedies already allowed.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 116 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 116 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).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House Human Services committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4969 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to remedies for a cause of action brought by a child welfare services provider for an adverse action taken against the provider in violation of the provider's rights of conscience.
WHAT IT DOES
The losing side pays attorney’s fees and court costs.
The bill lets a child welfare services provider that wins a rights-of-conscience claim or defense under existing Human Resources Code Chapter 45 recover reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. It touches child welfare providers and the state or other parties that take adverse action against them over conscience-based practices. On the ground, a provider that prevails in such a case can make the losing side pay its legal bills, on top of the remedies already allowed.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Human Services
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“defense under this chapter is entitled to recover reasonable”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill adds one-way fee-shifting so child welfare providers who win conscience claims or defenses can recover their attorney's fees and court costs.
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 13, 2025
04/03/2025 H Referred to Human Services: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Human Services · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Family--Child Protection
Family--Parent & Child
Religion
ATTORNEY'S FEES
Text
The text as introduced · 116 words
89R5877 DNC-D By: Schatzline H.B. No. 4969 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to remedies for a cause of action brought by a child welfare services provider for an adverse action taken against the provider in violation of the provider's rights of conscience. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 45.007, Human Resources Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (c) In addition to any remedy under Subsection (a), a child welfare services provider who successfully asserts a claim or defense under this chapter is entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.