Monitoring the Session

SB 226

one agency letter proves a child’s school residency

Became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Royce WestDSenate 23

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 establishing residency for children who are the subject of parental child safety placement agreements for purposes of admission into public schools.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

From the Department of Family and Protective Services, handed to the district.

The bill lets a parent or guardian prove a child lives in a school district by handing the district a letter from the Department of Family and Protective Services. It covers children placed with relatives or family friends under a parental child safety placement agreement, and it requires the department to include that letter, with the child's address and set proof-of-residence wording, in every such agreement for a school-age child. Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, these children can enroll in the school where they are actually staying without other residency paperwork.

Labels

Labels: INSTANT LAW. Took effect immediately, on Jun 20, 2025. 833 of the 1,185 graded 89R laws took effect Sep 1, 2025 (derived from the bill histories, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB226 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Sen. Royce WestDSenate 23

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to establishing residency for children who are the subject of parental child safety placement agreements for purposes of admission into public schools.

WHAT IT DOES

From the Department of Family and Protective Services, handed to the district.

The bill lets a parent or guardian prove a child lives in a school district by handing the district a letter from the Department of Family and Protective Services. It covers children placed with relatives or family friends under a parental child safety placement agreement, and it requires the department to include that letter, with the child's address and set proof-of-residence wording, in every such agreement for a school-age child. Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, these children can enroll in the school where they are actually staying without other residency paperwork.

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 7, 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. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Education K-16
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Co-author authorized
  15. Co-author authorized
  16. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  17. Laid before the Senate
  18. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  19. Vote recorded in Journal
  20. Three day rule suspended
  21. Record vote
  22. Read 3rd time
  23. Passed
  24. Record vote
  25. Reported engrossed
  26. Received from the Senate
  27. Read first time
  28. Referred to Public Education
  29. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  30. No action taken in committee
  31. Posting rule suspended
  32. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  33. Considered in public hearing
  34. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  35. Left pending in committee
  36. Considered in formal meeting
  37. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  38. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  39. Committee report distributed
  40. Committee report sent to Calendars
  41. Considered in Calendars
  42. Placed on General State Calendar
  43. Read 2nd time
  44. Passed to 3rd reading
  45. Read 3rd time
  46. Passed
  47. Record vote RV#3459
  48. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  49. House passage reported
  50. Reported enrolled
  51. Signed in the Senate
  52. Signed in the House
  53. Sent to the Governor
  54. Signed by the Governor
  55. Effective immediately
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 136 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 24, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 16, 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

Royce West

Donors

Skyview Development LLC$36KTexas 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.

Votes4

House May 24, 2025

Yea
136
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
3
Excused
9
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3459

SB 226 was passed by (Record 3459): 136 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 136 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 9 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Final passage

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.

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

SB 226 (West) Relating to establishing residency for children who are the subject of parental child safety placement agreements for purposes of admission into public schools. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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 Apr 16, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

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.

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

SB 226 (West) Relating to establishing residency for children who are the subject of parental child safety placement agreements for purposes of admission into public schools. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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 Apr 16, 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

SB 226 (West) Relating to establishing residency for children who are the subject of parental child safety placement agreements for purposes of admission into public schools. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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.

Witnesses22
For
19
Against
0
On
3
Names

For

  • Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE)2 registrations
  • Children at Risk1 registration
  • Democrats for Education Reform TX1 registration
  • Family Freedom Project1 registration
  • Self2 registrations
  • Self; Autism Society Texas1 registration
  • Self; Children at Risk1 registration
  • Texans Care for Children1 registration
  • Texas Association of Community Schools2 registrations
  • Texas Association of School Administrators2 registrations
  • Texas Association of School Boards2 registrations
  • TexProtects3 registrations

On

  • TEA1 registration
  • Texas Education Agency2 registrations
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 7, 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 Nov 12, 2024

06/20/2025 E Effective immediately

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.

Coauthors
Adam HinojosaRSenate 27 José MenéndezDSenate 26
Sponsors
Diego M. BernalDHouse 123

House committee · Public Education · Committee vote 12 aye, 0 nay, 3 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Education K-16 · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Education--Primary & Secondary--Admission & Attendance

Education--Primary & Secondary--Charter Schools

Education--School Districts

Family--Child Protection

Family--Parent & Child

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

FAMILY & PROTECTIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 374 words

89R3135 AMF-D

By: West
S.B. No. 226

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing residency for children who are the subject

of parental child safety placement agreements for purposes of

admission into public schools.

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

SECTION 1. Section 25.001, Education Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (c-3) to read as follows:

(c-3) The parent or guardian of a child who is the subject of

a parental child safety placement agreement under Section 264.902,

Family Code, may establish residency for purposes of Subsection (b)

by providing to the school district a copy of a letter from the

Department of Family and Protective Services indicating that the

child is the subject of such an agreement and that the address of

the child's residence during the agreement is in the district.

SECTION 2. Section 264.902, Family Code, is amended by

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

(a-1) For a school-age child, a parental child safety

placement agreement must include a letter provided by the

department that contains the address of the child's residence

during the parental child safety placement and the following

language: "THIS LETTER SERVES AS PROOF OF RESIDENCE FOR PURPOSES OF

THE ENROLLMENT OF THE ABOVE-NAMED CHILD OR CHILDREN IN A PUBLIC

SCHOOL IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR GEOGRAPHIC AREA IN WHICH THE CHILD

OR CHILDREN RESIDE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 25.001(C-3),

EDUCATION CODE."

SECTION 3. (a) Section 25.001, Education Code, as amended

by this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

(b) Section 264.902, Family Code, as amended by this Act,

applies only to a parental child safety placement agreement

executed on or after the effective date of this Act. A parental

child safety placement agreement executed before the effective date

of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the

agreement was executed, and the former law is continued in effect

for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.