H.B. No. 3281 amends various sections of the Texas Family Code concerning the procedures and grounds for the termination of the parent-child relationship. Key changes include the requirement for courts to find "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" instead of "clear and convincing evidence" for termination cases. The bill also updates the specific grounds for termination, including new provisions related to parental conduct that places a child in immediate danger, and clarifies the circumstances under which a parent may be deemed to have constructively abandoned a child. Additionally, the bill repeals certain existing provisions and modifies the criteria for reinstating parental rights after involuntary termination.

The legislation emphasizes the need for courts to document the reasonable efforts made by the Department of Family and Protective Services to return a child to their parent before termination can be ordered. It also specifies that evidence such as economic disadvantage or nonviolent misdemeanor charges cannot be used as grounds for termination. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply only to suits filed after that date, ensuring that existing cases are governed by the law in effect at the time of filing.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 161.001, Family Code 161.007, Family Code 161.206, Family Code 161.302 (Family Code 161)
House Committee Report: Family Code 161.001, Family Code 161.007, Family Code 161.206, Family Code 161.302 (Family Code 161)