SB 227 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the application review process for certain delayed birth certificates.

SB 227 modifies Texas' delayed birth certificate process to make it easier for applicants to prove identity and birthplace. It prevents state registrars from rejecting applications solely due to inconsistent supporting evidence, requiring them instead to weigh specific factors like valid ID (e.g., driver's license), evidence questioning birthplace, and verified affidavits from knowledgeable individuals. For individuals born before January 1, 1959, the bill mandates registration of a delayed birth certificate using only the established parent’s name if that parent’s identity is verified with non-contradictory information. The law takes effect September 1, 2025, directly affecting residents seeking delayed birth certificates, particularly those with complex documentation.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2024
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Nov 12, 2024 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 4 edits · Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
The bill text was reformatted from an 'Engrossed' version to an 'Enrolled' version, which is the final version signed into law. The substantive policy content remains unchanged, including the new requirements for birth certificate applications and the effective date of September 1, 2025. The main differences are formatting, spacing, and the addition of certification signatures from legislative officers.
TECHNICAL

The bill was converted from an 'Engrossed' draft to an 'Enrolled' final version, adding certification signatures from the Senate President, House Speaker, and Governor, and removing draft annotations.

Formatting was standardized with consistent spacing, line breaks, and removal of placeholder text and amendment markup symbols.

A header line was added stating 'The digital content on TLO has been updated to align with the accessibility standards required by WCAG 2.1.'

The bill number format was updated from 'S.B.ANo.A227' to '89(R) SB 227 - Enrolled version - Bill Text'.

Floor votes · House May 25, 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
18
Committee
12
Amendments
3
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage reported
upper
May 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in committee
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Committee
Referred to Public Health
lower
Apr 30, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed to engrossment as amended
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors