Relating to public hearing requirements for issuing a license for or expanding certain residential child-care facilities.

HB 3597 requires applicants for new licenses or capacity expansions at residential child-care facilities in counties with fewer than 300,000 residents to hold a public hearing and publish notice in a local newspaper. This applies to general residential operations, cottage homes, and continuum-of-care facilities. The law, effective September 1, 2025, adds these community notification steps before the licensing commission issues approval. It directly affects facility operators seeking to open or expand services in smaller counties across Texas. The bill modifies existing licensing procedures without changing the substantive standards for facility operations.