HB 5539
adoption agencies post itemized costs online
Companion SB 2306 became law
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 the provision of adoption cost information by a licensed child-placing agency.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Every cost tied to an adoption, on the website.
The bill requires every licensed child-placing agency in Texas to post adoption cost information on its website. That information must include an itemized list of each cost tied to an adoption. Families looking to adopt can see the fees up front starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 99 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 99 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-HB5539 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
+ 2 more authors
ITEM
relating to the provision of adoption cost information by a licensed child-placing agency.
WHAT IT DOES
Every cost tied to an adoption, on the website.
The bill requires every licensed child-placing agency in Texas to post adoption cost information on its website. That information must include an itemized list of each cost tied to an adoption. Families looking to adopt can see the fees up front starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 13, 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
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Human Services
- Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Considered in public hearing
- Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
- Left pending in committee
- Considered in public hearing
- Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
- Considered in formal meeting
- Vote reconsidered in committee
- Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
- Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
- Committee report distributed
- Committee report sent to Calendars
- Considered in Calendars
- Placed on General State Calendar
- Companion considered in lieu of SB 2306
- Laid on the table subject to call
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
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.
Witnesses7
- For
- 5
- Against
- 0
- On
- 2
Names
For
- Self1 registration
- Self; Family Freedom Project1 registration
- Self; Texas Family Project2 registrations
- Texas CASA1 registration
On
- DFPS Resource Witness1 registration
- Health and Human Services Commission1 registration
Sources
7 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 I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 13, 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
05/13/2025 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 · Human Services · Committee vote 8 aye, 1 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee
Companion
SB 2306 by Parker (identical)
Subjects
Family--Parent & Child
ADOPTION
INTERNET
Text
The text as introduced · 99 words
89R15626 KRM-D By: Schatzline H.B. No. 5539 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the provision of adoption cost information by a licensed child-placing agency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 162, Family Code, is amended by adding Section 162.605 to read as follows: Sec. 162.605. INFORMATION REGARDING ADOPTION COSTS. A licensed child-placing agency shall post on its Internet website information regarding adoption costs. The information must include an itemized list of each cost associated with an adoption. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.