HB 1863

relating to the duration of a protective order against family
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 85.025(a-1), Family Code, is amended to
(a-1)  The court may render a protective order applying only
to a person found to have committed family violence sufficient to
protect the applicant and members of the applicant's family or
household that is effective for a period that exceeds two years and
may be for the lives of the persons protected by the protective
order and the person who is the subject of the protective order [if
the court finds that the person who is the subject of the protective
[(1)  committed an act constituting a felony offense
involving family violence against the applicant or a member of the
applicant's family or household, regardless of whether the person
has been charged with or convicted of the offense;
[(2)  caused serious bodily injury to the applicant or
a member of the applicant's family or household; or
[(3)  was the subject of two or more previous
[(A)  to protect the person on whose behalf the
current protective order is sought; and
[(B)  after a finding by the court that the
subject of the protective order has committed family violence].
SECTION 2.  Section 85.001(d), Family Code, is repealed.
SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a protective order rendered on or after the effective date of
this Act. A protective order rendered before the effective date of
this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the order is
rendered, and the former law is continued in effect for that
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.