Texas HB 1190 (2021): A Court Finding Before the CPS Central Registry (Did Not Pass)

This bill is not law. It did not pass. Its last official action was "Placed on General State Calendar" in the Texas House on May 12, 2021 Texas Legislature Online, History for 87(R) HB 1190.

The short answer

HB 1190 would have stopped DFPS from adding a person's name to the central child abuse or neglect registry unless a court first found that the person abused or neglected the child. A House committee approved a changed version, but the full House never voted on it. A bill that does not make it all the way through dies when the session ends Legislative Reference Library of Texas, What's Next? Post-Session FAQ, 89th R.S..

The House committee's bill analysis describes the central registry as a DFPS database that holds the names of people alleged to have committed child abuse or neglect House Committee on Human Services, Bill Analysis, C.S.H.B. 1190 (87R).

How far it got

• Filed: January 19, 2021. It went to the House Human Services Committee on March 4, 2021.
• Committee: The committee heard it on March 23, 2021 and left it pending. On May 4, 2021, it approved a substitute version.
• Stopped: On May 12, 2021, it was placed on the General State Calendar, the House list of bills waiting for floor action. The official history shows nothing after that.

What it would have changed

A court finding first. Under the committee version, DFPS could not have added a name to the registry unless a court entered a final order in a civil, criminal, or juvenile case finding that the person abused or neglected the child 87(R) HB 1190, House Committee Report (substitute) text. A DFPS finding alone would not have been enough.

New findings only. The change would have applied only to DFPS findings made on or after the bill's effective date. Older findings would have stayed under the old law 87(R) HB 1190, House Committee Report (substitute) text.

What the filed version had that the committee removed. As first filed, the bill would also have allowed a listing when a DFPS finding was upheld at a hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). It also had steps for getting a name removed from the registry. The committee's substitute dropped both House Committee on Human Services, Bill Analysis, C.S.H.B. 1190 (87R).

Which laws it affects

• Texas Family Code §261.002 (central registry). The bill would have added a new Subsection (a-1) to this section 87(R) HB 1190, House Committee Report (substitute) text.
• What the law offers now. Because HB 1190 did not pass, it changes nothing. Under current law, if you dispute DFPS's finding after an investigation, you may ask for an administrative review of the findings Tex. Fam. Code §261.309(c).

Related

• CPS Investigation Findings in Texas: Reason to Believe, Ruled Out and More
• How to Ask for an ARIF (Administrative Review of CPS Findings) in Texas
• Texas HB 2070 (2025): A Court Finding Before Most CPS Central Registry Listings (Did Not Pass): a 2025 bill with the same core idea, which also did not pass
• Texas SB 515 (2023): Severity Codes, Notice and Removal for the CPS Central Registry (Did Not Pass): a 2023 central registry bill that also did not pass
• Texas HB 2849 (2017): Removing Names From the CPS Central Registry
• The 2027 Texas Legislature (90th): When CPS Bills Can Be Filed