Monitoring the Session

HB 5143

3.3M-Plus Counties Keep Child Protection Cases Out Of Juvenile Court

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review
Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr.DHouse 142
Why it's charged
Bracket bill

THE TEXT

“A court in a county that has a population of 3.3 million”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

A population floor of 3.3 million aims the rule at only the very largest county or counties. The caption admits it covers only "certain counties," so the narrowness is disclosed but not named.

Bracket bill

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 a prohibition on the referral of a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity to a court designated as a juvenile court in certain counties.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Caption says “certain counties.” That means only the very largest. Pending cases too.

The bill bars courts in the largest Texas counties from sending any part of a government-filed child custody or child protection case to a court designated as a juvenile court. It touches families in child protection cases brought by the state, including children who are also involved in the juvenile justice system, and the courts in those counties. On the ground, these cases must stay in the family or civil court where they were filed, starting September 1, 2025, and the rule also covers cases already pending.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence subcommittee on Family & Fiduciary Relationships. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5143 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr.DHouse 142

ITEM

relating to a prohibition on the referral of a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity to a court designated as a juvenile court in certain counties.

WHAT IT DOES

Caption says “certain counties.” That means only the very largest. Pending cases too.

The bill bars courts in the largest Texas counties from sending any part of a government-filed child custody or child protection case to a court designated as a juvenile court. It touches families in child protection cases brought by the state, including children who are also involved in the juvenile justice system, and the courts in those counties. On the ground, these cases must stay in the family or civil court where they were filed, starting September 1, 2025, and the rule also covers cases already pending.

CHARGES

[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 60%

THE TEXT

“A court in a county that has a population of 3.3 million”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

A population floor of 3.3 million aims the rule at only the very largest county or counties. The caption admits it covers only "certain counties," so the narrowness is disclosed but not named.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by Speaker
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Harold V. Dutton Jr.

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$66KTexas Sands PAC$58KCharter Schools Now PAC$36K

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 · Jul 29, 2024 to Oct 17, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$65,748.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$65,748.00

Cash
$32,500.00
Paid by others
$33,248.00
Total
$65,748.00
mail $33,248.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Oct 17, 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: 100986461, 101011085, 101033172, 101044523, 101044526, 101072841.

Texas Sands PAC$58,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$58,000.00

Cash
$58,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$58,000.00

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 · Dec 10, 2024 to Feb 3, 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: 100986461, 101044526.

Charter Schools Now PAC$36,000.00

Charter Schools Now PAC

$36,000.00

Cash
$1,000.00
Paid by others
$35,000.00
Total
$36,000.00
Other filed descriptions $35,000.00

Also funds 89 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 29, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jan 22, 2026 to Feb 28, 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: 101044523, 101061631.

Money

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

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$65,748.00

Cash
$32,500.00
Paid by others
$33,248.00
Total
$65,748.00
mail $33,248.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Oct 17, 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: 100986461, 101011085, 101033172, 101044523, 101044526, 101072841.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$58,000.00

Cash
$58,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$58,000.00

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 · Dec 10, 2024 to Feb 3, 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: 100986461, 101044526.

×

Charter Schools Now PAC

$36,000.00

Cash
$1,000.00
Paid by others
$35,000.00
Total
$36,000.00
Other filed descriptions $35,000.00

Also funds 89 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 29, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jan 22, 2026 to Feb 28, 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: 101044523, 101061631.

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

04/07/2025 H Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by Speaker: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM

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 · Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Courts--General

Family--Child Protection

Family--Parent & Child

Minors--Juvenile Justice

Text

The text as introduced · 200 words

89R17917 AMF-D

By: Dutton
H.B. No. 5143

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a prohibition on the referral of a suit affecting the

parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity to a court

designated as a juvenile court in certain counties.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 103, Family Code, is amended by adding

Section 103.004 to read as follows:

Sec. 103.004. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN TRANSFERS. (a) In

this section, "dual status child" has the meaning assigned by

Section 51.02.

(b) A court in a county that has a population of 3.3 million

or more may not transfer any aspect of a suit filed by a

governmental entity under Subtitle E to a court designated as a

juvenile court in the county, regardless of whether a dual status

child is a subject of the suit.

SECTION 2. The change in law made 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 that is filed on or

after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.