Relating to conflicts between a protective order and certain other orders and to the transfer of a protective order.
SB 1559 (Texas Family Code, Sections 85.064) clarifies when courts must transfer protective orders to the family court handling related divorce or custody cases. It requires courts to transfer protective orders issued before or during divorce/custody proceedings, or those affecting child custody after a custody order is finalized, to the court with ongoing jurisdiction over the family case. This directly affects individuals involved in family law cases who have existing protective orders, ensuring consistent oversight by the court managing their primary family matter. The bill repeals the previous subsection (c) and takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 21, 2025
Signed Jun 20, 2025
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What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
5 edits
·
Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates Texas Family Code provisions regarding protective orders to clarify their priority over other court orders in divorce or custody cases and adds requirements for how protective orders must be written and transferred. The changes ensure that protective orders remain effective and take precedence over conflicting orders from family court proceedings, with specific rules about safety assessments during transfers.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope by adding new requirements for protective order content and transfer procedures, while clarifying that protective orders issued before or during family court proceedings maintain their validity and priority.
REQUIREMENT
Protective orders must now include a prominently displayed statement in bold, capital letters, or underlined text stating that the order prevails over conflicting orders from divorce or custody cases.
New procedures require motions to transfer protective orders to include certificates of service, responses within 20 days, and hearings with notice served 10 days before the hearing date.
ENFORCEMENT
Transfers of protective orders now require courts to find that the transfer will not negatively impact the safety of protected persons, and courts must provide protected persons an opportunity to submit safety statements.
TIMELINE
The bill specifies that new protective order requirements apply only to orders issued on or after the effective date of September 1, 2025.
TECHNICAL
Older sections of the Family Code regarding protective order transfers were repealed and replaced with more detailed procedures.
Floor votes · House May 15, 2025
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
60
Key actions
19
Committee
14
Amendments
4
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 22, 2025
Introduced
Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
lower
May 22, 2025
Introduced
Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
upper
May 22, 2025
Introduced
House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
upper
May 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage as amended reported
upper
May 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 15, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (129-0-15)
house
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Vote reconsidered in committee
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recalled from subcommittee
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee meeting cancelled
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by Speaker
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Jurisprudence
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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