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HB 2353

Relating to compensation for an attorney ad litem appointed in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed by a governmental entity.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Harold Dutton

HB 2353 increases compensation rates for court-appointed child advocates in government-initiated custody cases, improving representation access but raising state litigation costs.

Left pending in subcommittee
#attorney'sfees(s0202) #courts--county&statutory(i0115) #family--childprotection(i0351) #family--parent&child(i0355)
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Bill Summary · HB 2353

Legislative bill overview

HB 2353 addresses compensation rates for attorneys ad litem (court-appointed attorneys representing children's interests) in child welfare cases initiated by government entities in Texas. The bill modifies how these court-appointed attorneys are paid when representing children in suits affecting parent-child relationships brought by governmental bodies like Child Protective Services.

Why is this important

Attorney ad litem compensation directly affects the quality of legal representation children receive in foster care and custody cases. Inadequate compensation can lead to attorney shortages in this specialized field, potentially compromising children's advocacy during critical family law proceedings. This is particularly significant since government-initiated cases often involve vulnerable children in state custody.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Changes to attorney compensation rates will increase state expenditures on child welfare litigation, requiring budget allocation decisions
  • Quality vs. cost balance: Higher compensation may attract better attorneys but raises questions about fiscal responsibility and whether funds could be better used for direct child services
  • Uniformity concerns: The bill may create different compensation standards depending on case type, potentially creating inequities in representation quality across different judicial contexts

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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