HB 1734

AN ACT relating to the transfer of court files in a suit affecting the

House Bill Orr | Manuel | Bowers
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Fiscal Note

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What This Bill Does

Updates the process for transferring court files in child custody cases involving ongoing jurisdiction. It requires court clerks to electronically send transfer documents (including final orders, transfer certificates, pleadings, and cost bills) to the new court within 10 working days of a transfer order being signed. The changes will apply to jurisdiction transfer orders issued on or after September 1, 2025, streamlining how family court records are shared between jurisdictions.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to the transfer of court files in a suit affecting the
parent-child relationship in which continuing, exclusive
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 155.207(a), Family Code, is amended to
(a)  Not later than the 10th working day after the date an
order of transfer is signed, the clerk of the court transferring a
proceeding shall send, using the electronic filing system
established under Section 72.031, Government Code, to the proper
court to which transfer is being made:
(1)  a transfer certificate and index of transferred
(2)  a copy of each final order;
(3)  a copy of the order of transfer signed by the
(4)  a copy of the pleadings in the pending proceeding
and any other document specifically requested by a party [original
papers filed in the transferring court];
(5)  a copy of the transfer certificate and index of
transferred documents from each previous transfer; and
(6)  a bill of any costs that have accrued in the
SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act to Section
155.207(a), Family Code, applies only to a suit affecting the
parent-child relationship in which an order transferring
continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to another court is rendered on
or after the effective date of this Act.  A suit affecting the
parent-child relationship in which an order transferring
continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to another court is rendered
before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
effect on the date the order was rendered, and the former law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the transfer of court files in a suit affecting the