Texas SB 1141 (2025): Court Must Confirm CPS Gave Rights Notices

This bill is law. It took effect September 1, 2025.

The short answer

SB 1141 added a new step to Texas CPS court cases. Before the full adversary hearing begins, the judge must confirm, in writing and in open court, that DFPS told the "alleged perpetrator" (the person DFPS says may have abused or neglected a child) about certain rights. It applies to DFPS court cases filed on or after September 1, 2025.

What it changes

SB 1141 adds a new section to the Texas Family Code, Section 262.2011, called "Confirmation of Required Notice Provided." Before the full adversary hearing starts, the court must check with the alleged perpetrator, in writing and in open court, that DFPS gave three notices:

• The right to record the interview. Before interviewing the person, DFPS told them they could make an audio or video recording of the interview (Family Code §261.3027).
• The right to ask for a review of findings. DFPS told the person they could ask for an administrative review of DFPS's findings (Family Code §261.3091). See How to Ask for an ARIF (Administrative Review of CPS Findings) in Texas.
• The first-contact information. When DFPS first contacted the person after opening an investigation of a parent or legal custodian, it gave them the information that Tex. Fam. Code §261.307 requires.

The new rule applies only to DFPS court cases filed on or after the effective date. Cases filed earlier follow the law in effect when they were filed.

According to the Senate Research Center's analysis, the bill's purpose was that people in CPS investigations are often not told their rights before DFPS interviews them. The same analysis says the committee version removed parts of the original bill that would have blocked the use of a person's statements if DFPS did not give the notice. So SB 1141 itself is a confirmation step. It does not add its own rule keeping evidence out.

A separate rule already in the Family Code does address evidence. Under Tex. Fam. Code §261.307(e), if the person under investigation does not get the required verbal notice and written summary, information obtained from that person is not admissible against them in any civil proceeding.

Which laws it affects

• Family Code §262.2011 (new): the court's confirmation before the full adversary hearing.
• Tex. Fam. Code §261.307: the first-contact information DFPS must give. SB 1141 does not change this section; it makes the court confirm that DFPS followed it.
• Family Code §261.3027 (notice of the right to record an interview) and §261.3091 (notice of the right to request an administrative review). SB 1141 refers to these sections but does not change them.

Related

• Your Rights When Texas CPS Contacts You (Family Code §261.307)
• How to Ask for an ARIF (Administrative Review of CPS Findings) in Texas
• The Texas CPS Investigation Process, Step by Step (Family Code §§261.301–261.302)
• Your Right to a Lawyer in a Texas CPS Case
• Texas HB 135 (2021): CPS Must Tell You About Recording and Review Rights: the 2021 law on telling alleged perpetrators about their rights
• Texas HB 63 (2023): No More Anonymous Reports to the DFPS Hotline: the 2023 law on reports and first-contact notices