H.B. No. 2350 amends the Texas Family Code to clarify and expand the standing of individuals who can file a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. The bill introduces new categories of individuals who may file such suits, including relatives and designated caregivers of a child placed by the Department of Family and Protective Services, provided they have had exclusive care of the child for at least six months. It also specifies that a person who is a relative of the child within the fourth degree of consanguinity can file for managing conservatorship if the child's parents are deceased. Additionally, the bill allows for prospective adoptive parents to assert standing through a written statement executed by a pregnant woman or the child's parent.

The bill further modifies existing provisions regarding the intervention of relatives and caregivers in pending suits, emphasizing that a grandparent or relative may intervene if they can prove that the child's well-being is at risk. It also removes certain limitations on filing suits for adoption and termination of parental rights, allowing for broader access to the courts for individuals with substantial past contact with the child. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply only to suits filed after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 102.003, Family Code 102.0035, Family Code 102.004, Family Code 102.005, Family Code 102.006 (Family Code 102)
House Committee Report: Family Code 102.003, Family Code 102.0035, Family Code 102.004, Family Code 102.005, Family Code 102.006 (Family Code 102)
Engrossed: Family Code 102.003, Family Code 102.0035, Family Code 102.004, Family Code 102.005, Family Code 102.006 (Family Code 102)
Senate Committee Report: Family Code 102.003, Family Code 102.0035, Family Code 102.004, Family Code 102.005, Family Code 102.006 (Family Code 102)
Enrolled: Family Code 102.003, Family Code 102.0035, Family Code 102.004, Family Code 102.005, Family Code 102.006 (Family Code 102)