Relating to the enforcement of a court order for possession of or access to a child and related order modifications.
HB 3181 modifies Texas family law to address repeated violations of court-ordered child visitation. It directly affects parents or conservators who have been found in contempt of court at least three times for denying a child's scheduled access. The bill requires courts to automatically modify existing visitation orders in such cases and prohibits community supervision (probation) for repeat offenders. Additionally, courts cannot waive attorney fees for these repeat violations, and must order extra visitation time to compensate for denied access. These changes aim to strengthen enforcement of court-ordered parenting plans.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 20, 2025
Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
5 edits
·
Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates Texas Family Code provisions regarding court enforcement for denied child possession or access. It clarifies that a finding of contempt after three prior violations constitutes a material change justifying order modification, and restricts courts from waiving attorney fees in such cases. The changes strengthen enforcement mechanisms for parents seeking to enforce visitation rights.
Scope change
The bill applies to suits for modification pending on or after the effective date, and to suits affecting parent-child relationships filed on or after the effective date. It also applies to enforcement orders rendered on or after the effective date.
ENFORCEMENT
Added Section 156.107 establishing that three prior contempt findings for denied possession/access constitute a material change justifying order modification
REQUIREMENT
Modified Section 157.165 to prohibit courts from placing respondents on community supervision if they have three prior contempt findings for denied possession/access
Modified Section 157.167 to prohibit courts from waiving attorney fees when a respondent has three prior contempt findings for denied possession/access
Modified Section 157.168 to clarify that additional possession periods must be twice the duration of denied periods if three prior contempt findings exist
TIMELINE
Added effective date of September 1, 2025 for the Act's provisions
Floor votes · House May 5, 2025
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
54
Key actions
19
Committee
13
Amendments
2
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate passage reported
lower
May 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
May 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
May 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
May 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
May 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
May 6, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
May 5, 2025
Introduced
Received from the House
upper
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recalled from subcommittee
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in subcommittee
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by Speaker
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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