The bill amends Section 107.015 of the Family Code to establish new provisions regarding the compensation of attorneys ad litem appointed in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by governmental entities. It specifies that these attorneys are entitled to reasonable fees and expenses set by the court, which are to be paid by the parents unless they are indigent. Additionally, if the court finds that one or more parties can afford to pay, it may order them to cover the attorney's fees, which can be taxed as costs against those parties.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a minimum hourly rate of $250 for attorneys ad litem in counties with populations of three million or more, applicable for both in-court appearances and reasonable out-of-court time spent on the case. It also mandates that attorneys submit a voucher or claim for payment detailing their fees and hours worked, with the stipulation that courts in larger counties cannot modify these claims to reduce payment. The changes will apply to any pending or future suits affecting the parent-child relationship as of the effective date, September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 107.015 (Family Code 107)