Transcript Highlights:

• A CPS investigator came to talk to somebody in jail.
• CPS, if it ever becomes evident that the two paths merge and become one, Then the CPS investigator becomes
• They won't even, when you go to the CPS therapist, you have to waive them and write.
• Because CPS wants the information.
• Whether or not that was through a CPS case, they need to be a Texas resident.

Bills: HB557 , HB732 , HB1892 , HB1954 , HB2301 , HB3180 , HB3405 , HB3650 , HB3758 , HB4035 , HB4621 , HB4795 , HB4870 , HB5069 , HB5137 , HB5149

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Keywords: child support, arrears, court enforcement, contempt, legal protections, healthcare, insurance, cost reduction, accessibility, regulations, impotency, marriage annulment, Family Code, Texas law, family law, Texas legislation, dissolution of marriage, annulment, marriage, child custody

Bills: HSB146 , HF277 , HSB145 , HSB153 , HF200 , HF320 , HSB86 , HSB121 , HSB122 , HF137 , SSB1081 , SSB1082 , SSB1074

Committee: Joint Health and Human Services

Keywords: child welfare, foster care, relative placement, kinship care, fictive kin, child in need of assistance, CINA, juvenile court, dispositional hearing, best interests of the child, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, child protective services, CPS, 30 days to family, family reunification, permanency planning, relative search, notice to relatives, licensed foster parent

Transcript Highlights:

• I generally don't have as a part of that the CPS report.
• I don't have the CPS cases to report.
• Why did CPS rule this out, or why did CPS do a, you know, a UTD on this case?
• So that's why it's not all — it's all CPS intake. which I actually already get the CPS intakes because
• Well, we didn't know anything about a CPS investigation.

Bills: HB741 , HB 1199 , HB2070 , HB2402 , HB2542 , HB2665 , HB2789 , HB3096 , HB3396 , HB3595 , HB3747 , HB4116 , HB4127

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: child welfare, relative caregiver, monetary assistance, Department of Family and Protective Services, child custody, family law, emergency power, nursing facilities, assisted living, generator requirements, health and safety, emergency generators, power outage, emergency generator, assisted living facilities, power source, child abuse, neglect registry, court findings, Medicaid

Transcript Highlights:

• So when do you determine to call CPS? Yes, Mr. Chairman.
• So when do you determine to call CPS? Yes, Mr. Chairman.
• So while our CPS laws didn't change, it did affect the way that CPS responded to cases.
• So while our CPS laws didn't change, it did affect the way that CPS responded to cases.
• I think this is a failure of CPS.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• CPS involvement and no mental health issues.
• With a CPS worker. I decided to leave him, and we were parenting.
• Let me ask you this: if you know, does CPS do—CPS in the form of, not the energy company?
• They weaponize CPS with false CPS allegations, which you heard one of the witnesses talk about.
• cases or have very limited CPS knowledge.

Bills: HB168 , HB 1044 , HB1534 , HB1914 , HB2240 , HB2530 , HB3284 , HB3395 , HB3515 , HB3783 , HB4034 , HB4213 , HB168

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Keywords: marriage age, minors, family law, void marriage, rights of minors, Texas marriage law, marriage ceremony, authorized officiants, family code, judges, religious leaders, parent-child relationship, Department of Family and Protective Services, legal rights, notice requirements, HB 1914, Texas Family Code, Chapter 156, conservatorship, custody

Transcript Highlights:

• And if CPS finds that first, by CPS.
• So, I report it to CPS. CPS has investigatory powers.
• &gt;&gt; To<00:56:05.080><c> CPS?</c> &gt;&gt; To CPS? &gt;&gt; To CPS? &gt;&gt; CPS. &gt;&gt; CPS.
• So, I report it to CPS. have an agency. So, I report it to CPS.
• </c> the the the child contacts CPS. the the the child contacts CPS.

Transcript Highlights:

• and a 52 CP.
• You're going to see that the 365 and 52 CP are better than the status quo and 12 CP for residential consumers
• And that is the 52 CP and the 365 CP.
• So adding CPs, adding coincident peaks that are evaluated, Adding CPs, adding coincident peaks that are
• We think they should look at a combination of CPs in energy use. We've suggested. CPs.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• We're not giving CPS any more authority or power.
• and, um, that was dealing with a lot of issues with CPS.
• How is this going to help not make CPS more, um, not make CPS more powerful, I guess, than what they
• We're not giving CPS anymore authority or power.
• That is where CPS steps in.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• And so what that results in is about 22,000 cases being called into CPS every year.
• And it turns out, while most people think of CPS mainly related to abuse, the majority of the reports
• Now, as a result of that, over the years, Idaho typically sends out CPS caseworkers or investigators
• But that is a lot of people being investigated yearly by Idaho CPS.
• CPS actually came out to our house on these events.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• I’d also like to say that I represent a lot of parents in CPS cases.
• But what I do is prosecute CPS cases for the state of Texas in Galveston County.
• CPS can and can't bring a case.
• And children in CPS cases.
• It just creates rules for fee schedules in CPS cases.

Bills: HCR10 , HB1814 , HB2160 , HB2353 , HB2643 , HB2971 , HB3282 , HB3382 , HB3996 , HB4507 , HB4509 , HB4805 , HB5551 , HB1863 , HCR10

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Keywords: family abduction, child safety, custodial rights, parental kidnapping, awareness day, marriage license, informal marriage, family code, identity verification, child support, family law, child custody, court interview, parent-child relationship, child welfare, attorney ad litem, compensation, legal representation, government entity, HB 2643

Transcript Highlights:

• They added that they had received a letter from CPS indicating that CPS had done something, but it had
• The speaker then said they had received a letter from CPS indicating that CPS had done something, but
• The speaker then said they had received a letter from CPS indicating that CPS had done something, but
• CPS is not a prosecuting agency.
• The way I read it is, I would think most of these false reports go to CPS. Yeah, they do.

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division B

Transcript Highlights:

• That reporter thought that they were doing the right thing and reported it to CPS.
• CPS thought that they were doing the right thing, opened the case.
• So if there's an open CPS... Yeah, if there's an open CPS investigation. This happened 43 times?
• Do you get unredacted CPS reports or child protective services? What reports? Yeah.
• CPS then creates an open record. That record is used against a parent in court.

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and established a quorum. It took no action on House Bill 2155. On House Bill 2682, the committee adopted a House Committee Substitute that removed a reference to the 11th Amendment in the portion waiving state immunity, then voted the bill do pass by a roll call vote of 6-3. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2308, which would require parenting time lost during a child abuse investigation to be made up if the allegation is unfounded. Representative Holly Jones presented the bill as a way to restore time to falsely accused parents and children. Testimony in support came from Robert Garza and Lincoln Brewbaker, both of whom described extensive personal experiences with repeated false allegations, CPS involvement, court orders, and lost parenting time; they argued the bill would deter misuse of the system and conserve investigative and court resources. Several members raised concerns about logistics, fairness to the other parent, judicial discretion, and whether the bill should apply only when the accuser is the other parent. No opposition testimony was offered. The committee also heard House Bill 2176, a broad firearms measure described by the sponsor as combining prior committee-approved provisions, including limits on red flag laws, preemption of local gun ordinances, changes to self-defense immunity, and lowering the concealed carry permit age from 19 to 18. Supporters from the Missouri Firearms Coalition and Women for Gun Rights argued the bill protects due process and the Second Amendment and prevents abuse of gun seizure laws. Opponents from Moms Demand Action argued it weakens public safety, undermines local control, and could worsen gun violence and suicide. Members questioned the bill’s dangerous felony carve-out, the scope of the $50,000 civil penalty, and how the bill would affect firearms at home or in mental health crises. The hearing concluded without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're like, if you leave, we will literally stop you from leaving, or we'll call CPS.
• I guess there was some CPS intervention. There was never CPS.
• When you did, the hospital called CPS?
• I told CPS there must be some kind... of mistake.
• December 6, 2022, and CPS arrived at our door that would have been February 2023.

Bills: HB514 , HB1652 , HB2117 , HB2298 , HB3269 , HB46 , HB46

Committee: House S/C on Disease Prevention & Women's & Children's Health

Keywords: maternal health, maternal care, pregnancy, labor and delivery, postpartum, doula, birth worker, midwife, obstetric care, women's health, rural health, health workforce, workforce development, trauma-informed care, public outreach campaign, health equity, minority health, underserved communities, Texas Department of State Health Services, HHSC

Transcript Highlights:

• We appropriated out of the ARPA funds significant amounts of money for new computer systems with CPS
• We appropriated out of the ARPA funds significant amounts of money for new computer systems with CPS
• ,</c> youth court, that also involves CPS, youth court, that also involves CPS, that<00:10:27.360><c>
• If you're talking about CPS and DHS, they're on, as far as I know, on state systems.
• 28.560><c> DHS,</c><00:12:29.360><c> they're</c> talking about CPS and DHS, they're talking about CPS

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Washington State is also substantiating fewer CPS reports.
• That's why these families are coming back to the CPS hotline multiple times.
• The CPS caseworker can't do it alone.
• So what is the CPS response?
• And what happens during a CPS response is the allegation is screened in for investigation.

Bills: SB5979 , SB6308 , SB6319

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: opioids, substance abuse, dependent children, child welfare, caregiver substance use, court orders, shelter care, judicial discretion, family law, early childhood, family services, diversion programs, court-ordered assessments

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, instead of it being maybe CPS workers, it'll be contracted workers.
• I mean, instead of it being maybe CPS workers, it'll be contracted workers.
• So that's, and the reason I'm bringing this up is I used to work with CPS on a daily basis.
• So I would think this would be a good thing for CPS, that they would really kind of relish this.
• All of our providers have to go through the same background checks, CPS, APS...

Summary: The committee considered and advanced several bills. House Bill 4995, concerning video cameras in special education classrooms, was explained as requiring parents to be notified of recording interruptions, providing written notice of the law to parents and school employees, shortening the required random review of recordings from every 90 days to every 30 days, and clarifying that school boards must still conduct independent investigations even if DHS or prosecutors do not act. The committee adopted the motion to report the bill to the full Senate. House Bill 5214, dealing with drug testing in child abuse and neglect cases, would allow courts to order testing of parents in certain cases, require laboratory confirmation of positives, and require DHS to notify the court and other parties; the committee adopted the strike-and-insert amendment, then reported the bill as amended and adopted a title amendment. The committee also advanced House Bill 4025 and House Bill 5441, both restructuring state personnel systems. HB 4025 would exempt employees of the Department of Health, health facilities, and human services from classified civil service and grievance procedures beginning July 1, 2026, while preserving status for some current employees and allowing exemptions to comply with federal requirements; the committee adopted a piecemeal amendment and reported it as amended. HB 5441 would eliminate separate civil service systems for Transportation, Revenue, and the Bureau for Social Services and move classifications and compensation structures to the Division of Personnel, with testimony from the governor’s counsel emphasizing faster hiring and more flexibility; the committee adopted the strike-and-insert amendment and reported the bill as amended. House Bill 4602, a child welfare pilot program creating a private community-based system for post-removal services, drew testimony from DHS about concerns over costs, continuity, oversight, and child well-being outcomes, while supporters argued it could reduce caseloads and improve flexibility. The chair amended the bill to remove one of the two pilot regions, leaving only the Berkeley/Jefferson County pilot, and the committee then reported the bill as amended despite opposition from the senator from Marion. House Bill 4106, removing the provisional concealed handgun license requirement for ages 18 to 21, heard testimony from a pediatrician opposing the change and from a gun rights advocate supporting it; an amendment requiring firearms training for under-21 carriers failed by a 1-14 roll call, and the committee then reported the bill as amended. Finally, House Bill 4198, after a subcommittee rewrite, was advanced with a strike-and-insert amendment that refined E-Verify requirements for public and private employers, added exemptions for certain small or new employers and sole proprietors, clarified recordkeeping and notice requirements, and adjusted penalties and enforcement procedures. After a motion for the previous question, the committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 4198 as amended. House Bill 5319 was removed from the agenda, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• When the baby's born, the baby is tested, and if the baby has drugs in its system, CPS will red flag
• Then CPS was called. Because the backyard was dirty, and the house was dirty.
• CPS yanked that baby because they didn't think that these parents could take care of it.
• I worked as a 3L lawyer at CPS, and thereafter, I did terminations before Ground O was added.
• They intervened into a CPS case.

Bills: HB809 , HB 1193 , HB1916 , HB2558 , HB1973 , HB2350 , HB2399 , HB2340 , HB 116 , HB330 , HB2496 , HB116

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Keywords: digitized signature, waiver of citation, marriage dissolution, electronic notarization, family law, HB 1193, informal marriage, common-law marriage, declaration of informal marriage, confidentiality, privacy, county clerk, vital statistics unit, Family Code, Health and Safety Code, marriage records, public records, personally identifying information, PII, legal representative

Transcript Highlights:

• However, this bill doesn't change the guidelines of what CPS is currently doing.
• Maybe we need to look at CPS as a whole. I'm totally good with that.
• CPS was called to that case. They showed up. They saw no problems.
• I think the problem is in CPS. If they think there's a problem, move on it.
• Let's get the problem fixed in CPS. Let's get them the training that they must.

Transcript Highlights:

• The parents requested removal, and CPS went ahead and followed those recommendations.
• DCYF or CPS visited the home after discharge and supposedly closed the case.
• In 2024, the average number of calls to CPS before a child ended up dead was almost nine.
• It should not take nine calls to CPS to protect a child.
• Between 2022 and 2025, DCYF received multiple reports about this family, and CPS cases were opened.

Bills: HB2511 , HB2660

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: child welfare, dependency, imminent physical harm, child abuse, neglect, foster care, extended foster care, shelter care, out-of-home placement, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, family law, juvenile court, child protection, unsafe home, substance use, caregiver impairment, relative placement, guardianship, adoption

Transcript Highlights:

• If there was a prior investigation by CPS and there was an allegation that drugs could harm the child
• This bill has to do with a case that is under a CPS investigation, involving a child under the age of
• Services may begin during a CPS investigation, but the investigation does not need to remain open in
• If there was a prior investigation by CPS and there was an allegation that drugs could harm the child
• This amendment says we put 100 The actual CPS staff on the ground.

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee first held a public hearing on the gubernatorial appointment of Angela Ramirez to serve as Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services. Ramirez described her background in public service and said her priorities would include improving technology, addressing workforce shortages, strengthening relationships with labor, tribes, and community organizations, and protecting DSHS programs and clients during uncertain budget and federal conditions. Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck also spoke in support of her confirmation, and members raised questions about needed improvements at DSHS. The committee then moved into executive session on six bills. On SB 6062, dealing with juvenile rehabilitation, midpoint reviews, bed capacity, and transfers between DCYF and DOC facilities, all six proposed Christian amendments failed and the committee advanced the Wilson substitute to Ways and Means. On SB 6308, concerning shelter care conditions for children under five in dependency cases, the committee rejected four Christian amendments and adopted a Wilson amendment clarifying that the bill does not supersede the Washington Indian Child Welfare Act; the bill then advanced to Ways and Means. On SB 6319, addressing community-based referrals for high-risk families with children under four and parental opioid use, the committee rejected three Christian amendments and adopted a technical Wilson amendment; the substitute then advanced to Ways and Means. The committee also considered SB 6286, which would authorize Department of Health inspections of private detention facilities and create a repair account funded by fines for inspection violations. All Christian amendments and one Warnick amendment failed, and the proposed substitute was advanced to Ways and Means. On SB 6080, regarding contracts and conditions for jails holding people in federal custody, all Christian amendments failed and the substitute was advanced to Rules. Finally, on SB 6184, an agency-request bill making technical and program updates, the committee adopted the bill with one amendment and sent it forward subject to signatures. The committee recessed partway through the agenda, returned to vote on the first six bills, and announced that remaining bills and the gubernatorial appointment would be taken up the next day.