SB 1404: West’s bill on custody and child support orders

Caption

relating to requirements for certain orders and judgments rendered in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

Summary

Confidential parties give an e-mail address. Fee judgments get issued separately.

The bill changes how family courts handle certain custody and child support orders. When a court keeps a party's information confidential, the court must collect an e-mail address from that party for notices and service, and attorney's fee judgments must be issued separately from judgments setting the amount of unpaid child support. Parents in these cases can be served or notified by e-mail through the state e-filing system, and fee awards no longer get lumped into arrearage judgments, starting September 1, 2025, including in pending cases.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1404 · 2025-02-19

SOLD BY

Sen. Royce WestDSenate 23

ITEM

relating to requirements for certain orders and judgments rendered in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

WHAT IT DOES

Confidential parties give an e-mail address. Fee judgments get issued separately.

The bill changes how family courts handle certain custody and child support orders. When a court keeps a party's information confidential, the court must collect an e-mail address from that party for notices and service, and attorney's fee judgments must be issued separately from judgments setting the amount of unpaid child support. Parents in these cases can be served or notified by e-mail through the state e-filing system, and fee awards no longer get lumped into arrearage judgments, starting September 1, 2025, including in pending cases.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · March 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

Feb 19, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Feb 19, 2025Filed
Mar 6, 2025Read first time
Mar 6, 2025Referred to Jurisprudence
Mar 19, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Mar 19, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 19, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Mar 19, 2025Left pending in committee
Mar 20, 2025Considered in public hearing
Mar 20, 2025Vote taken in committee
Mar 24, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Mar 24, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Mar 24, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Apr 10, 2025Placed on local & uncontested calendar
Apr 10, 2025Laid before the Senate
Apr 10, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
Apr 10, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 10, 2025Three day rule suspended
Apr 10, 2025Record vote
Apr 10, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 10, 2025Passed
Apr 10, 2025Record vote
Apr 10, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 14, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 17, 2025Read first time
Apr 17, 2025Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by Speaker
May 12, 2025Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
May 12, 2025Subcommittee meeting cancelled
May 13, 2025Recalled from subcommittee
May 13, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 13, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 15, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 15, 2025Committee report distributed
May 15, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 19, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 21, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 22, 2025Read 2nd time
May 22, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 22, 2025Record vote RV#3247
May 22, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 23, 2025Read 3rd time
May 23, 2025Passed
May 23, 2025Record vote RV#3327
May 23, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 23, 2025House passage reported
May 23, 2025Reported enrolled
May 26, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 26, 2025Signed in the House
May 27, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Signed by the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 131 yea · 5 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 23, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 10, 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

Royce West

Donors

Skyview Development LLC$36K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20KErle Allen Nye Jr.$15,000

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 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 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.

Skyview Development LLC$36,332.00

Skyview Development LLC

$36,332.00

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $36,332.00
Total: $36,332.00

Other filed descriptions $32,032.00fundraiser $4,300.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 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: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

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 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 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: 100987569, 101063137.

Erle Allen Nye Jr.$15,000.00

Money

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

×

Skyview Development LLC

$36,332.00

Cash: $0.00
Paid by others: $36,332.00
Total: $36,332.00

Other filed descriptions $32,032.00fundraiser $4,300.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

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

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 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: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash: $20,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $20,000.00

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 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 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: 100987569, 101063137.

Votes5

House May 23, 2025

Yea: 131
Nay: 5
Present, not voting: 3
Absent: 4
Excused: 7

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3327

SB 1404 was passed by (Record 3327): 131 Yeas, 5 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 131 (published)
Nay: 5 (published)
Present, not voting: 3 (published)
Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
Excused: 7 (derived from named list)

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

House May 22, 2025

Yea: 138
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 3
Absent: 4
Excused: 5

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3247

SB 1404 was passed to third reading by (Record 3247): 138 Yeas, 0 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 138 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 3 (published)
Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Final passage

Yea: 30
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.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSSB 1404 (West) Relating to requirements for certain orders and judgments rendered in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

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

Yea: 30 (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 Apr 10, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea: 30
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.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

CSSB 1404 (West) Relating to requirements for certain orders and judgments rendered in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

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

Yea: 30 (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 Apr 10, 2025

Passage to engrossment

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.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

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

Sources

CSSB 1404 (West) Relating to requirements for certain orders and judgments rendered in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

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.

Witnesses1

For: 0
Against: 0
On: 1

Names

On

Office of the Attorney General, Child Support Division1 registration

Sources

1 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

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 S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · March 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 Senate · Filed Feb 19, 2025

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

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

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

Companion

HB 4035 by Dutton (very similar)

Subjects

Courts--General

Electronic Information Systems

Family--Child Support

Family--Parent & Child

Protection of Personal Information

ATTORNEY'S FEES

EMAIL & ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Text

The text as introduced · 415 words

89R5045 KRM-F

By: West
S.B. No. 1404

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requirements for certain orders and judgments rendered

in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

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

SECTION 1. Section 105.006, Family Code, is amended by

adding Subsections (c-1) and (i) and amending Subsection (f) to

read as follows:

(c-1) If a court renders an order under Subsection (c)

prohibiting the disclosure of a party's information, the court

shall require that the party provide to the court, for inclusion in

the final order, an e-mail address at which the party may receive:

(1) notice and service of process of subsequent

motions, petitions, or other legal pleadings using the electronic

filing system established under Section 72.031, Government Code;

and

(2) other legal documents or required notices.

(f) Except for an action in which contempt is sought, in any

subsequent child support modification or enforcement action, the

court may, on a showing that diligent effort has been made to

determine the location of a party, consider due process

requirements for notice and service of process to be met with

respect to that party on delivery of written notice to the most

recent residence address, e-mail address, or address of employment

filed by that party with the court and the state case registry.

(i) The clerk may send orders, notices, and other documents

relating to a final order to which this section applies to the

e-mail address provided by a party under this section using the

electronic filing system established under Section 72.031,

Government Code.

SECTION 2. Section 106.002, Family Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c) In rendering a judgment for attorney's fees or expenses

under this section, the court shall render the judgment separate

from any judgment confirming the amount of arrearages under Section

157.263.

SECTION 3. Section 157.167, Family Code, is amended by

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

(a-1) In rendering a judgment for attorney's fees and court

costs under Subsection (a), the court shall render the judgment

separate from any judgment confirming the amount of arrearages

under Section 157.263.

SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Skyview Development LLC

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Skyview Development LLC

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

House May 23, 2025

House May 22, 2025

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Senate Apr 10, 2025

On

Companion