HB 5255

Morales Bill Bars Immigration Status From Child Removal Decisions

Died in committee

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 policies related to the removal and placement of a child by the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Caseworkers can’t weigh a parent’s or caregiver’s status in removal or placement.

The bill bars the Department of Family and Protective Services from weighing citizenship or immigration status in two decisions. It covers the parent's status when the agency decides whether to take a child, and a relative's or other caregiver's status when the agency decides where to place the child. Starting September 1, 2025, caseworkers could not use a parent's or caregiver's immigration status as a factor in those removal and placement decisions.

Labels

Labels: QUICK READ: 141 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 141 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 14, 2025 and referred to the House Human Services committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5255 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Christina MoralesDHouse 145

ITEM

relating to policies related to the removal and placement of a child by the Department of Family and Protective Services.

WHAT IT DOES

Caseworkers can’t weigh a parent’s or caregiver’s status in removal or placement.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 14, 2025Filed
Apr 7, 2025Read first time
Apr 7, 2025Referred to Human Services

FILED UNDER

AMNESTY BY PAPERWORK

THE TEXT

…“department may not consider the citizenship or immigration status”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill makes a caregiver's or parent's immigration status off-limits in state child-removal and placement decisions, so a person here unlawfully is treated the same as a lawful resident for those decisions.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Christina Morales

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$23K Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee$8K Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas$5K

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 2, 2024 to Oct 10, 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$22,500.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$22,500.00

Cash: $22,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $22,500.00

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 · Oct 23, 2024 to Sep 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: 100987507, 101030051, 101061699, 101072155.

Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee$7,711.42

Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee

$7,711.42

Cash: $500.00
Paid by others: $7,211.42
Total: $7,711.42

Other filed descriptions $5,122.42printing $2,089.00

Also funds 4 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 30, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 26, 2024 to Sep 21, 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: 100987507, 101030051, 101072150.

Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas$5,000.00

Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas

$5,000.00

Cash: $5,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $5,000.00

Also funds 53 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 15, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Aug 24, 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: 100987507, 101072150.

Money

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

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$22,500.00

Cash: $22,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $22,500.00

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 · Oct 23, 2024 to Sep 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: 100987507, 101030051, 101061699, 101072155.

Texas Organizing Project Political Action Committee

$7,711.42

Cash: $500.00
Paid by others: $7,211.42
Total: $7,711.42

Other filed descriptions $5,122.42printing $2,089.00

Also funds 4 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 30, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 26, 2024 to Sep 21, 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: 100987507, 101030051, 101072150.

Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas

$5,000.00

Cash: $5,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $5,000.00

Also funds 53 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Aug 15, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Aug 24, 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: 100987507, 101072150.

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 14, 2025

04/07/2025 H Referred to Human Services: 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 · Human Services · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Aliens

Family--Child Protection

Family--Parent & Child

FAMILY & PROTECTIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 141 words

89R16041 DNC-D

By: Morales of Harris
H.B. No. 5255

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to policies related to the removal and placement of a child

by the Department of Family and Protective Services.

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

SECTION 1. Section 262.114, Family Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) In making a placement decision for a child, the

department may not consider the citizenship or immigration status

of a relative or other designated caregiver.

SECTION 2. Section 262.116, Family Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) When deciding whether to take possession of a child

under this subchapter, the department may not consider the

citizenship or immigration status of the child's parent.

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