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HB 4369

Relating to the age at which a child may express a preference to the court on issues regarding residence and conservatorship in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Aicha Davis

HB 4369 adjusts the minimum age threshold allowing Texas children to formally express custody preferences in family court proceedings affecting residence and conservatorship arrangements.

Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by Speaker
#family--parent&child(i0355)
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Bill Summary · HB 4369

Legislative bill overview

HB 4369 modifies Texas family law regarding the age threshold at which children can formally express their preferences to courts concerning custody, residence, and conservatorship arrangements. The bill adjusts procedural rules governing how and when children's voices are heard in parental custody disputes within the family court system.

Why is this important

Child custody decisions directly affect millions of Texans, and the age at which courts can consider a child's stated preferences significantly impacts legal proceedings and family outcomes. Courts currently rely on statutory age thresholds to determine when children are developmentally capable of making informed preferences, making this change relevant to how custody disputes are resolved across the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Optimal age threshold debate: Disagreement over whether the proposed age is developmentally appropriate, with concerns that either too young an age risks judicial influence on children or too old an age ignores the child's mature input
  • Judicial discretion vs. bright-line rules: Questions about whether courts should have flexibility to hear preferences below the statutory age when a child demonstrates sufficient maturity, versus enforcing a fixed age requirement
  • Implementation consistency: Risk of inconsistent application across courts and judges interpreting the new age standard differently, potentially creating disparities in how children's preferences are weighed

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

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