HB1973

Signed by Governor
Authored by David Cook (R)
View at Source

Caption: Relating to proof of the identity of a child's parents in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
Initially Referred to House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships Committee, chaired by a Democrat
Last Referred to Senate Jurisprudence Committee, chaired by a Republican
HB 1973 amends the Family Code to require petitioners in suits affecting the parent-child relationship to submit a certified copy of the child's birth certificate to the court, if available. If a birth certificate is unavailable, the court may request it from another party or seek alternative proof of the child's parentage. The bill ensures confidentiality of any submitted documents and provides an exemption for the Title IV-D agency from the requirement. These changes apply to cases filed on or after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025.

Co-authors: Morales Shaw (D)
Sponsors: Zaffirini (D)

Jan 22, 2025


(H) Cook signed onto the bill as Author
(H) Filed
 

Mar 14, 2025


(H) Read first time
(H) Referred to the House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships, chaired by a Democrat
 

Mar 24, 2025


(H) Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
(H) Considered by s/c in public hearing
(H) Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
(H) Left pending in subcommittee
 

Apr 9, 2025


(H) House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence met.
(H) Recalled from subcommittee
(H) Considered in public hearing
(H) Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
 

Apr 23, 2025


(H) Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
(H) Committee report distributed
 

Apr 25, 2025


(H) Committee report sent to Calendars
 

Apr 28, 2025


(H) Considered in Calendars
 

May 1, 2025


(H) Placed on General State Calendar
(H) Read 2nd time
(H) Passed to engrossment
(H) Record vote

RV#1193: Yea 142 (R 83, D 59) - Nay 0 (R 0, D 0)
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Yea - Alders; Allen; Anchia; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Bumgarner; Button; Cain; Campos; Canales; Capriglione; Cole; Collier; Cook; Cortez; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gamez; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, J.; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hernandez; Hickland; Hinojosa; Hopper; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Kerwin; King; Kitzman; LaHood; Lalani; Lambert; Leach; Leo Wilson; Little; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; Lujan; Luther; Manuel; Martinez; Martinez Fischer; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Meza; Money; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Morales Shaw; Morgan; Munoz; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Ordaz; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Phelan; Pierson; Plesa; Raymond; Reynolds; Richardson; Rodriguez Ramos; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Schatzline; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Simmons; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Tepper; Thompson; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener

Absent - Dutton; Moody; Virdell

Present, Not Voting - Burrows; Landgraf

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
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May 2, 2025


(H) Read 3rd time
(H) Passed
(H) Record vote

RV#1299: Yea 133 (R 79, D 54) - Nay 0 (R 0, D 0)
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Yea - Alders; Allen; Anchia; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Bumgarner; Button; Cain; Capriglione; Cole; Cook; Cortez; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dutton; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gamez; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, J.; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hefner; Hernandez; Hickland; Hinojosa; Hopper; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Kerwin; King; Kitzman; Lalani; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Leo Wilson; Little; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Louderback; Lozano; Lujan; Luther; Manuel; Martinez; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Meza; Money; Morales, E.; Morales Shaw; Morgan; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Ordaz; Patterson; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Phelan; Pierson; Plesa; Raymond; Reynolds; Richardson; Rodriguez Ramos; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shofner; Simmons; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Talarico; Tepper; Thompson; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Vasut; Villalobos; Virdell; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener

Absent - Dean; Lopez, R.; Lowe; Moody

Present, Not Voting - Burrows

Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.

David Lowe: "When Record No. 1299 was taken, my vote failed to register. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Jay Dean: "When Record No. 1299 was taken, I was in the house but away from my desk. I would have voted yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

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(H) Reported engrossed
 

May 5, 2025


(S) Received from the House
(S) Read first time
(S) Referred to the Senate Jurisprudence, chaired by a Republican
 

May 15, 2025


(H) Morales Shaw signed onto the bill as Coauthor
 

May 21, 2025


(S) Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
(S) Considered in public hearing
(S) Vote taken in committee
 

May 23, 2025


(S) Reported favorably as substituted
(S) Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
(S) Committee report printed and distributed
 

May 28, 2025


(S) Placed on local & uncontested calendar
(S) Laid before the Senate
(S) Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
(S) Vote recorded in Journal
(S) Three day rule suspended
(S) Record vote
(S) Read 3rd time
(S) Passed
(S) Record vote
 

May 29, 2025


(H) Senate passage as amended reported
(H) Senate Amendments distributed
(H) Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
 

May 30, 2025


(H) House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
(H) Record vote

RV#4069: Yea 133 (R 79, D 54) - Nay 2 (R 2, D 0)
View Source

Yea - Alders; Anchia; Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Bumgarner; Button; Cain; Canales; Capriglione; Cole; Collier; Cook; Cortez; Craddick; Cunningham; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dutton; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Gamez; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, L.; Gerdes; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, J.; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris Davila; Hayes; Hefner; Hernandez; Hickland; Hinojosa; Holt; Hopper; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Isaac; Johnson; Jones, J.; Kerwin; King; Kitzman; LaHood; Lalani; Landgraf; Leach; Leo Wilson; Little; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; Lujan; Luther; Martinez; Martinez Fischer; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Meza; Money; Moody; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Morales Shaw; Morgan; Munoz; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Ordaz; Orr; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Pierson; Plesa; Raymond; Richardson; Rodriguez Ramos; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Schatzline; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shofner; Simmons; Slawson; Smithee; Spiller; Swanson; Tepper; Thompson; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Turner; VanDeaver; Villalobos; Virdell; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wharton; Wilson; Wu; Zwiener

Nay - Patterson; Shaheen

Absent - Campos; Davis, Y.; Gates; Harrison; Manuel; Reynolds; Talarico

Present, Not Voting - Burrows; Vasut

Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.

Cody Vasut: "When Record No. 4069 was taken, I was presiding in the chair and was shown voting present, not voting. I intended to vote yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

You can view which lawmakers have received money from a specific PAC
by selecting the PAC from the list below:


(H) Text of Senate Amendment(s)
(S) House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
 

May 31, 2025


(H) Reported enrolled
 

Jun 1, 2025


(H) Signed in the House
(S) Signed in the Senate
 

Jun 2, 2025


(E) Sent to the Governor
 


(H) Zaffirini signed onto the bill as Sponsor

Lobbying Against/For/On This Bill

Against

(Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before H S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships as Steven Deline for self
 

For

(Wed 5/21/2025) Registering before S Jurisprudence as Jay Williamson for County and District Clerks' Association of Texas (CDCAT)
 

On

(Mon 3/24/2025) Testifying before H S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships as Amy Owen Kloesel for self
(Mon 3/24/2025) Testifying before H S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships as Kenneth Newell for self
(Mon 3/24/2025) Registering before H S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships as Angelia Dedek for self



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