Bill Text: TX HB692 | 2027-2028 | 90th Legislature Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relating to the interview of a child in a suit affecting a parent-child relationship.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced) 2026-11-09 - Filed [HB692 Detail]

Download: Texas-2027-HB692-Introduced.html

---

90R3365 KRM-D
By: Gámez H.B. No. 692

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the interview of a child in a suit affecting a
parent-child relationship.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 153.009, Family Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 153.009. INTERVIEW OF CHILD BY COURT [IN CHAMBERS].
SECTION 2. Sections 153.009(a), (d), and (f), Family Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) In a nonjury trial or at a hearing, the court:
(1) [,] on the application of a party, the amicus
attorney, or the attorney ad litem for the child, [the court] shall
interview [in chambers] a child 12 years of age or older in chambers
or, at the court's discretion, in another location in the
courthouse, and may interview [in chambers] a child under 12 years
of age in chambers or, at the court's discretion, in another
location in the courthouse, to determine the child's wishes as to:
(A) conservatorship, possession, or access;
(B) [or as to] the person who shall have the
exclusive right to determine the child's primary residence; or
(C) any other issue affecting the parent-child
relationship; and
(2) on the court's own motion,[. The court] may [also]
interview a child of any age [in chambers on the court's own motion]
for a purpose specified by Subdivision (1) [this subsection].
(d) In a jury trial, an [the court may not] interview
conducted under this section may not be introduced to the jury [the
child in chambers regarding an issue on which a party is entitled to
a jury verdict].
(f) If the court interviews a child 12 years of age or older
under this section [On the motion of a party, the amicus attorney,
or the attorney ad litem for the child, or on the court's own
motion], the court shall:
(1) cause a record of the interview to be made; and
(2) unless a party has filed a notice of appeal for the
suit, order the sealing of the record of the interview [when the
child is 12 years of age or older. A record of the interview shall
be part of the record in the case].
SECTION 3. Section 156.006(b), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) While a suit for modification is pending, the court may
not render a temporary order that has the effect of creating a
designation, or changing the designation, of the person who has the
exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child, or
the effect of creating a geographic area, or changing or
eliminating the geographic area, within which a conservator must
maintain the child's primary residence, under the final order
unless the temporary order is in the best interest of the child and:
(1) the order is necessary because the child's present
circumstances would significantly impair the child's physical
health or emotional development;
(2) the person designated in the final order has
voluntarily relinquished the primary care and possession of the
child for more than six months; or
(3) the child is 12 years of age or older and has
expressed to the court in an interview conducted under [in chambers
as provided by] Section 153.009 the name of the person who is the
child's preference to have the exclusive right to designate the
primary residence of the child.
SECTION 4. Section 156.101(a), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The court may modify an order that provides for the
appointment of a conservator of a child, that provides the terms and
conditions of conservatorship, or that provides for the possession
of or access to a child if modification would be in the best
interest of the child and:
(1) the circumstances of the child, a conservator, or
other party affected by the order have materially and substantially
changed since the earlier of:
(A) the date of the rendition of the order; or
(B) the date of the signing of a mediated or
collaborative law settlement agreement on which the order is based;
(2) the child is at least 12 years of age and has
expressed to the court in an interview conducted under [in chambers
as provided by] Section 153.009 the name of the person who is the
child's preference to have the exclusive right to designate the
primary residence of the child; or
(3) the conservator who has the exclusive right to
designate the primary residence of the child has voluntarily
relinquished the primary care and possession of the child to
another person for at least six months.
SECTION 5. Section 153.009(b), Family Code, is repealed.
SECTION 6. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a suit affecting the parent-child relationship pending on the
effective date of this Act or filed on or after that date.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.