H.B. No. 4795 amends the Family Code to enhance the duties of the vital statistics unit within the Department of State Health Services regarding suits affecting the parent-child relationship. The bill introduces a new electronic process that allows the Department of Family and Protective Services to request information from the vital statistics unit, utilizing existing resources. This process is established in both Section 155.101 and Section 160.422, where Subsection (e) and Subsection (a-1) are added, respectively. Additionally, the bill modifies the requirements for the certificate of search results to include a digitized or written signature, replacing the previous requirement for a signature on behalf of the unit.

The changes made by this Act will only apply to requests received by the vital statistics unit on or after January 1, 2026, with requests prior to this date governed by the existing law. The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission is tasked with adopting necessary rules to implement these changes, and the Act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Family Code 155.101, Family Code 160.422 (Family Code 155, Family Code 160)
House Committee Report: Family Code 155.101, Family Code 160.422 (Family Code 155, Family Code 160)
Engrossed: Family Code 155.101, Family Code 160.422 (Family Code 155, Family Code 160)
Senate Committee Report: Family Code 155.101, Family Code 160.422 (Family Code 155, Family Code 160)
Enrolled: Family Code 155.101, Family Code 160.422 (Family Code 155, Family Code 160)