Bill Text: TX SB66 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to a study on authorizing a supporter under a supported decision-making agreement to assist an adult with a disability with legal proceedings.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2025-06-20 - Effective on 9/1/25 [SB66 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-SB66-Enrolled.html
| S.B. No. 66 | ||
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| relating to a study on authorizing a supporter under a supported | ||
| decision-making agreement to assist an adult with a disability with | ||
| legal proceedings. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. (a) In this section: | ||
| (1) "Adult," "disability," "supported decision-making | ||
| agreement," and "supporter" have the meanings assigned by Section | ||
| 1357.002, Estates Code. | ||
| (2) "Office" means the Office of Court Administration | ||
| of the Texas Judicial System. | ||
| (b) The office shall conduct a study on the legal and | ||
| ethical implications of authorizing a supporter under a supported | ||
| decision-making agreement to assist an adult with a disability with | ||
| legal proceedings in which the adult is involved. | ||
| (c) The study must: | ||
| (1) examine the effect of the supporter's involvement | ||
| in civil or criminal legal proceedings on attorney-client privilege | ||
| and confidentiality, including whether the presence of a supporter | ||
| during legal consultations results in a waiver of privilege or | ||
| other protection granted under law; | ||
| (2) identify provisions of the Estates Code and other | ||
| relevant laws that may require amendment to provide for the adult's | ||
| effective legal support while preserving protected communications | ||
| and ethical legal representation; | ||
| (3) evaluate best practices from other jurisdictions | ||
| that balance autonomy of adults with disabilities and access to | ||
| justice with confidentiality safeguards; and | ||
| (4) include recommendations for statutory changes | ||
| that the office determines are appropriate based on the results of | ||
| the study. | ||
| (d) In conducting the study, the office may consult with: | ||
| (1) Disability Rights Texas; | ||
| (2) relevant sections of the State Bar of Texas, | ||
| including sections specializing in probate, legal ethics, and | ||
| disability law; | ||
| (3) legal aid organizations and public defenders; | ||
| (4) members of the judiciary; and | ||
| (5) other stakeholders with experience in supported | ||
| decision-making agreements, legal ethics, or disability rights. | ||
| (e) Not later than December 1, 2026, the office shall submit | ||
| a report on its findings and recommendations to the governor, the | ||
| lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, | ||
| and the appropriate standing committees of the senate and house of | ||
| representatives. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I hereby certify that S.B. No. 66 passed the Senate on | ||
| May 6, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the | ||
| Senate concurred in House amendment on May 30, 2025, by the | ||
| following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that S.B. No. 66 passed the House, with | ||
| amendment, on May 28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 107, | ||
| Nays 30, two present not voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| Approved: | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
