Monitoring the Session

HB 5394

bill bars agencies from extra rules for relative caregivers

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Toni RoseDHouse 110

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 prohibiting child-placing agencies from imposing certain requirements on relative and designated caregivers.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Grandparents and family friends meet state rules. Nothing more on top.

The bill bars child-placing agencies from putting any requirement on a relative or designated caregiver beyond what state law or state agency rules already require. It touches private child-placing agencies and the grandparents, relatives and family friends who take in children through the state's relative caregiver program. On the ground, agencies can no longer add their own extra conditions on these caregivers starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: QUICK READ: 94 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 94 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).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB5394 · 2025-03-14

SOLD BY

Rep. Toni RoseDHouse 110

ITEM

relating to prohibiting child-placing agencies from imposing certain requirements on relative and designated caregivers.

WHAT IT DOES

Grandparents and family friends meet state rules. Nothing more on top.

The bill bars child-placing agencies from putting any requirement on a relative or designated caregiver beyond what state law or state agency rules already require. It touches private child-placing agencies and the grandparents, relatives and family friends who take in children through the state's relative caregiver program. On the ground, agencies can no longer add their own extra conditions on these caregivers starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 20, 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

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Human Services
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Committee substitute considered in committee
  7. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in formal meeting
  10. Committee substitute considered in committee
  11. Reported favorably as substituted
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Postponed 5/10/25 9:00 AM
  19. Laid out as postponed business
  20. Postponed 5/10/25 2:30 PM
  21. Laid out as postponed business
  22. Passed to engrossment
  23. Record vote RV#2091
  24. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  25. Read 3rd time
  26. Passed
  27. Record vote RV#2135
  28. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  29. Reported engrossed
  30. Received from the House
  31. Read first time
  32. Referred to Health & Human Services
  33. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  34. Considered in public hearing
  35. Testimony taken in committee
  36. Left pending in committee
  37. Considered in public hearing
  38. Vote taken in committee
  39. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  40. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  41. Committee report printed and distributed
  42. Placed on intent calendar
  43. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  44. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
  45. Vote recorded in Journal
  46. Three day rule suspended
  47. Record vote
  48. Read 3rd time
  49. Passed
  50. Record vote
  51. Senate passage reported
  52. Reported enrolled
  53. Signed in the House
  54. Signed in the Senate
  55. Sent to the Governor
  56. Signed by the Governor
  57. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 144 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 12, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 26, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Toni Rose

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$23KTexas Sands PAC$14KTexans for Truth and Liberty PAC$10K

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 12, 2024 to Jun 27, 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 15, 2024 to Jun 22, 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: 100989331, 101032423, 101061700.

Texas Sands PAC$14,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$14,000.00

Cash
$14,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$14,000.00

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 · Sep 24, 2024 to May 18, 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: 100989331, 101061700.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$10,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jun 24, 2025. 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: 101010994.

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 15, 2024 to Jun 22, 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: 100989331, 101032423, 101061700.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$14,000.00

Cash
$14,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$14,000.00

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 · Sep 24, 2024 to May 18, 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: 100989331, 101061700.

×

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$10,000.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$10,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Jun 24, 2025. 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: 101010994.

Votes5

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator West moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 5394 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 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.

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Sources

Senator West moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 5394 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 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.

Senate May 26, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

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 May 12, 2025

Yea
144
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
3
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2135

HB 5394 was passed by (Record 2135): 144 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 144 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 10, 2025

Yea
120
Nay
8
Present, not voting
1
Absent
2
Excused
19
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2091

CSHB 5394 was passed to engrossment by (Record 2091): 120 Yeas, 8 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 120 (published)
  • Nay: 8 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 19 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses22
For
20
Against
1
On
1
Names

For

  • AARP Texas3 registrations
  • Children at Risk1 registration
  • Methodist Healthcare Ministries1 registration
  • Self5 registrations
  • Self; Texas Association of Family Defense Attorneys1 registration
  • Texans Care for Children2 registrations
  • Texas CASA2 registrations
  • Texas Network of Youth Services2 registrations
  • TexProtects2 registrations
  • United Ways of Texas1 registration

Against

  • Self1 registration

On

  • Health and Human Services Commission1 registration
Sources

22 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.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 20, 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.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 14, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

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

Sponsors
Royce WestDSenate 23

House committee · Human Services · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Companion

SB 224 by West (identical)

Subjects

Family--Child Protection

CONTRACTORS & SUBCONTRACTORS

FOSTER CARE

Text

The text as introduced · 94 words

89R1625 MLH-D

By: Rose
H.B. No. 5394

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to prohibiting child-placing agencies from imposing

certain requirements on relative and designated caregivers.

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

SECTION 1. Section 264.752, Family Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) A child-placing agency may not subject a relative or

designated caregiver to any requirement other than as provided by

law or department or Health and Human Services Commission rule.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.