Bill > HB3597

This bill modifies public hearing requirements for certain residential child-care facilities in Texas by changing the population threshold for mandatory public hearings from counties with less than 300,000 residents to counties with less than 500,000 residents. The bill requires that before the commission (rather than the department) can issue a license or expand the capacity of a general residential operation, cottage home operation, or continuum-of-care residential operation in qualifying counties, the applicant must: (1) conduct a public hearing at their own expense after notifying the commission of the hearing's date, time, and location, following commission rules; and (2) publish a notice of the application in a newspaper with general circulation in the community where the child-care services are proposed. The changes appear to slightly broaden the geographical scope of facilities subject to these public hearing requirements by increasing the county population threshold, and shift some administrative responsibilities from the department to the commission. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3597