H.B. No. 3597 amends Section 42.0461(a) of the Human Resources Code to establish new public hearing requirements for the issuance of licenses or the expansion of certain residential child-care facilities. The bill specifies that before the commission can issue a license or certificate for the operation or expansion of a general residential operation, cottage home operation, or continuum-of-care residential operation in counties with populations under 500,000, the applicant must conduct a public hearing at their own expense. This hearing must comply with commission rules, and the applicant is required to notify the commission of the hearing's details and publish a notice in a local newspaper.

Additionally, the bill updates the population threshold for these requirements from 300,000 to 500,000, reflecting a broader scope for public engagement in smaller communities. The changes aim to enhance transparency and community involvement in the licensing process for child-care facilities. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Human Resources Code 42.0461 (Human Resources Code 42)
House Committee Report: Human Resources Code 42.0461 (Human Resources Code 42)
Engrossed: Human Resources Code 42.0461 (Human Resources Code 42)
Senate Committee Report: Human Resources Code 42.0461 (Human Resources Code 42)
Enrolled: Human Resources Code 42.0461 (Human Resources Code 42)