Bill > HB1755

This bill modifies Texas family law to require courts to provide more explicit guidance to applicants seeking protective orders in family violence cases. Specifically, during a hearing on a protective order application, the court must now inform the applicant about potential location-based restrictions that can be imposed on a person found to have committed family violence. These restrictions, outlined in Sections 85.022(b)(3) and (4) of the Family Code, might include prohibitions on approaching certain locations. The court is now mandated to directly ask the applicant if they want the court to include these location restrictions in the protective order, should the court find that family violence occurred and is likely to occur again. Additionally, the bill requires the court to consider the applicant's expressed wishes when deciding whether to include these location restrictions. The new provisions will apply to protective order hearings held on or after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025, regardless of when the original application was filed. This change aims to give more agency to victims in shaping the protective orders that will help ensure their safety.

Budget and Finance

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1755