H.R. 5647, Advocates for Families Act of 2025 (Pending, 119th Congress)

This bill is not law. It is pending and has not passed.

The short answer

H.R. 5647, the Advocates for Families Act of 2025, is a bill in the 119th Congress H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House. It was introduced September 30, 2025 Congress.gov bill status for H.R. 5647 (119th Congress). Its latest action on Congress.gov is "Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means" Congress.gov bill status for H.R. 5647 (119th Congress). If it became law, a state's federal child welfare funding would depend on letting parents, foster parents, and legal guardians use a family advocate throughout a child welfare case H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House.

What it would change

A right to seek a family advocate. The bill would amend section 422(b) of the Social Security Act H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House, as "a condition of Federal support for child welfare services programs" H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House. State laws and procedures would have to let any parent, foster parent, or legal guardian "seek and receive the services of a family advocate" H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House.

What the advocate could do. The advocate would have authority to represent the person's interests and act for them "throughout any child welfare case or interaction involving the child" H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House.

Who pays. The state would not have to pay for or provide the advocate H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House. In other words, the bill would not require the state to supply a free advocate H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House.

Rules and notice. The state would set standards for the professional conduct of family advocates H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House. Its plan would also have to say how it will tell the parent, foster parent, or guardian about the right to a family advocate, and about local resources, from the start of any case or interaction H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House.

Reports. Each state would tell HHS how honoring this right affects child welfare services H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House. HHS would report to Congress within 2 years after enactment and every 2 years after that H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House. Those reports would go to the House Judiciary, Education and the Workforce, and Ways and Means Committees, and to matching Senate committees H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House.

How it relates to Texas

Texas law names DFPS as the state agency that cooperates with the federal government on Title IV-B and IV-E programs Tex. Hum. Res. Code §40.002. DFPS must cooperate "to the extent necessary to qualify for federal assistance in the delivery of services" Tex. Hum. Res. Code §40.002. If H.R. 5647 were enacted, its family advocate rule would become one of the conditions for that federal support H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House. Because it is not law, it changes nothing in Texas today.

Texas already has its own first-contact notices, which are about lawyers rather than family advocates. When DFPS opens an investigation, its written summary must include the person's right to seek legal counsel Tex. Fam. Code §261.307(a). DFPS must also give verbal notice of the right to "not speak with any agent of the department without legal counsel present" Tex. Fam. Code §261.307(a). See Your Rights When Texas CPS Contacts You (Family Code §261.307) and Your Right to a Lawyer in a Texas CPS Case.

Which laws it affects

• It would amend section 422(b) of the Social Security Act, at 42 U.S.C. 622(b), and add a reporting section to subpart 1 of part B of title IV H.R. 5647 (119th Congress), introduced in House.
• It would not amend any Texas statute. Related Texas law: Tex. Fam. Code §261.307.

Related

• H.R. 8997, Right to Representation Act (Pending, 119th Congress)
• Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003: CAPTA's Rule That CPS Tell You the Allegations
• Your Rights When Texas CPS Contacts You (Family Code §261.307)
• Your Right to a Lawyer in a Texas CPS Case
• The Texas CPS Investigation Process, Step by Step (Family Code §§261.301–261.302)