SB 2855
bill adding one phrase to the child’s best interest rule
Died in committee
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 best interest of the child in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Applies when the state child-welfare agency files the case too.
The bill adds one phrase to the Family Code rule that a child's best interest is always the court's primary consideration in custody and visitation decisions. It makes clear that this rule also applies when a government entity, such as the state child-welfare agency, files the case under the child protection subtitle. It states that this is a clarification of existing law and takes effect September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the Senate Health & Human Services committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2855 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the best interest of the child in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
WHAT IT DOES
Applies when the state child-welfare agency files the case too.
The bill adds one phrase to the Family Code rule that a child's best interest is always the court's primary consideration in custody and visitation decisions. It makes clear that this rule also applies when a government entity, such as the state child-welfare agency, files the case under the child protection subtitle. It states that this is a clarification of existing law and takes effect September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Health & Human Services
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
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 5, 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.
Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas$25,000.00
Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Jan 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Jan 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: 101065471.
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 5, 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: 101012370, 101032316, 101072614.
Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$10,000.00
Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee
$10,000.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $10,000.00
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Dec 2, 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: 101032316.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Kickapoo Traditional Tribes of Texas
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Jan 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Jan 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: 101065471.
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 12, 2024 to Oct 5, 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: 101012370, 101032316, 101072614.
Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee
$10,000.00
- Cash
- $10,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $10,000.00
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Dec 2, 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: 101032316.
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 Senate · Filed Mar 14, 2025
04/07/2025 S Referred to Health & Human Services
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Health & Human Services · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 5628 by Garcia, Josey (identical)
Subjects
Family--Child Protection
Family--Parent & Child
Text
The text as introduced · 164 words
89R15919 AMF-F By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2855 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the best interest of the child in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 153.002, Family Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 153.002. BEST INTEREST OF CHILD. The best interest of the child shall always be the primary consideration of the court in determining the issues of conservatorship and possession of and access to the child , including in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity under Subtitle E . SECTION 2. Section 153.002, Family Code, as amended by this Act, is intended only to clarify existing law with respect to the court's consideration of the best interest of the child in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity under Subtitle E, Title 5, Family Code. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.