SB 500: bill on what adoptive parents see about a child’s history

Caption

relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.

Summary

Changes what they see and how fast they get it.

The bill changes what prospective adoptive parents can see about a child's history before adoption and how fast they get it. It touches the state family services department, licensed child-placing agencies, and parents or guardians placing a child, who must share records, redact Social Security numbers, and hide the identities of biological parents, siblings adopted elsewhere and their adoptive parents, and people who reported abuse or neglect. On the ground, adoptive parents can see confidential history after signing a nondisclosure agreement, must get it within 90 days of asking, and placing agencies must receive the department's report within 30 days after the child's plan shifts to adoption.

Labels

Labels: DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 2009 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB500 · 2024-11-22

SOLD BY

Sen. Kevin SparksRSenate 31

+ 3 coauthors

ITEM

relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.

WHAT IT DOES

Changes what they see and how fast they get it.

The bill changes what prospective adoptive parents can see about a child's history before adoption and how fast they get it. It touches the state family services department, licensed child-placing agencies, and parents or guardians placing a child, who must share records, redact Social Security numbers, and hide the identities of biological parents, siblings adopted elsewhere and their adoptive parents, and people who reported abuse or neglect. On the ground, adoptive parents can see confidential history after signing a nondisclosure agreement, must get it within 90 days of asking, and placing agencies must receive the department's report within 30 days after the child's plan shifts to adoption.

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 · April 17, 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

Nov 22, 2024Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Nov 22, 2024Filed
Jan 29, 2025Co-author authorized
Feb 3, 2025Read first time
Feb 3, 2025Referred to Health & Human Services
Mar 19, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 8, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 8, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 8, 2025Testimony taken in committee
Apr 8, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 16, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 16, 2025Vote taken in committee
Apr 22, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Apr 22, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Apr 22, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Apr 28, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 28, 2025Placed on intent calendar
May 1, 2025Placed on local & uncontested calendar
Apr 29, 2025Not again placed on intent calendar
May 1, 2025Laid before the Senate
May 1, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
May 1, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 1, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 1, 2025Record vote
May 1, 2025Read 3rd time
May 1, 2025Passed
May 1, 2025Record vote
May 1, 2025Reported engrossed
May 1, 2025Received from the Senate
May 2, 2025Read first time
May 2, 2025Referred to Human Services
May 13, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 13, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 13, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
May 13, 2025Left pending in committee
May 16, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 16, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 21, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 21, 2025Committee report distributed
May 22, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 23, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 25, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 27, 2025Read 2nd time
May 27, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 27, 2025Record vote RV#3761
May 27, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 28, 2025Read 3rd time
May 28, 2025Passed
May 28, 2025Record vote RV#3874
May 28, 2025House passage reported
May 28, 2025Reported enrolled
May 30, 2025Signed in the Senate
Jun 1, 2025Signed in the House
Jun 1, 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 · 137 yea · 1 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 1, 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

Kevin Sparks

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60KKyle & Jamie Stallings$25,000Tim Dunn$25,000

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 25, 2024 to Oct 23, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $60,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 23, 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: 101012623, 101029380, 101072732.

Kyle & Jamie Stallings$25,000.00

Tim Dunn$25,000.00

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash: $60,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $60,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 23, 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: 101012623, 101029380, 101072732.

Votes5

House May 28, 2025

Yea: 137
Nay: 1
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 4
Excused: 7

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3874

SB 500 was passed by (Record 3874): 137 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 137 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 4 (derived from named list)
Excused: 7 (derived from named list)

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

House May 27, 2025

Yea: 137
Nay: 1
Present, not voting: 1
Absent: 9
Excused: 2

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3761

SB 500 was passed to third reading by (Record 3761): 137 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 137 (published)
Nay: 1 (published)
Present, not voting: 1 (published)
Absent: 9 (derived from named list)
Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 1, 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

CSSB 500 (Sparks) Relating to access to certain information in the adoption process. (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 May 1, 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

CSSB 500 (Sparks) Relating to access to certain information in the adoption process. (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 May 1, 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 500 (Sparks) Relating to access to certain information in the adoption process. (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.

Witnesses10

For: 8
Against: 0
On: 2

Names

For

Buckner International1 registration
Self1 registration
Self; Addy’s Hope Social Services3 registrations
Texas CASA1 registration
Texas Public Policy Foundation2 registrations

On

Department of Family and Protective Services1 registration
DFPS Resource Witness1 registration

Sources

10 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 S · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version S · April 17, 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.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 2009

by Sen. Sparks, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, May 15, 2023: Referred to Human Services

Relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Nov 22, 2024

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.

Coauthors

César BlancoDSenate 29

Bob HallRSenate 2

Borris MilesDSenate 13

Companion

HB 2144 by Shaheen (identical)

Subjects

Family--Child Protection

Family--Parent & Child

Protection of Personal Information

ADOPTION

FAMILY & PROTECTIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 433 words

89R467 MLH-F

By: Sparks
S.B. No. 500

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to access to certain information in the adoption process.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 162.005(b) and (c), Family Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(b) Before placing a child for adoption, the Department of

Family and Protective Services, a licensed child-placing agency, or

the child's parent or guardian shall compile a report on the

available health, social, educational, and genetic history of the

child to be adopted and distribute the report as required by this

chapter .

(c) The department shall ensure that each licensed

child-placing agency, single source continuum contractor, or other

person placing a child for adoption receives a copy of any portion

of the report prepared by the department not later than the 30th day

after the date the child's permanency plan is changed to include

adoption .

SECTION 2. Section 162.0062, Family Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-2) and (a-3) to

read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the prospective

adoptive parents of a child are entitled to examine the records and

other information relating to the history of the child , including

confidential information other than the identity of the biological

parents and any other person whose identity is confidential . The

Department of Family and Protective Services, licensed

child-placing agency, or other person placing a child for adoption

shall inform the prospective adoptive parents of their right to

examine the records and other information relating to the history

of the child. The department, licensed child-placing agency, or

other person placing the child for adoption shall :

(1) redact each social security number from the

records and information; and

(2) edit the records and information to protect the

identity of the biological parents , any biological siblings adopted

by a different family, the adoptive parents of those biological

siblings, any person who made a report of abuse or neglect to the

department or a law enforcement agency, and any [ other ] person

whose identity is confidential under Section 262.308 .

(a-2) A prospective adoptive parent must sign a

nondisclosure agreement before the department, licensed

child-placing agency, or other person placing the child for

adoption may release confidential information under this section.

(a-3) The department, licensed child-placing agency, or

other person placing the child for adoption shall provide the

information under this section not later than the 90th day after the

date the information is requested.

SECTION 3. 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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

House May 28, 2025

House May 27, 2025

Senate May 1, 2025

Senate May 1, 2025

Senate May 1, 2025

For

On

88R SB 2009

Companion