A new bill authored by State Rep. Jared Patterson in the Texas House seeks to clarify legal procedures involving pregnancy in marriage dissolution cases, aiming to streamline related court actions, according to the Texas Legislature website.
The bill on Crimes and Education category, introduced as HB 308 during the 89(2) legislative session on Thursday, Aug. 28, was formally listed with the short title: ’Relating to creating the criminal offense of trespass on or near school or day-care center property’.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends the Texas Family Code to address cases where a party in a suit for dissolution of marriage is pregnant. It mandates that such cases include a suit affecting the parent-child relationship concerning the unborn child. The bill ensures that a court cannot delay a dissolution of marriage decree solely due to pregnancy. It also allows, with good cause shown, for the severance of matters related to the parent-child relationship or marital estate division. The court must provide necessary orders for protection and cannot impose additional fees for severed matters. The decree does not affect ongoing proceedings concerning the unborn child. Changes apply to suits filed from Sept. 1, 2025.
Jared Patterson, the chair of the House Committee on Local & Consent Calendars, proposed no other bills during the 89(2) legislative session. He is also a member of the House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures, a member of the House Committee on Transportation, and a member of the House Committee on S/C on Transportation Funding.
Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
| Legislative Session | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89(1) | HB 36 | 07/14/2025 | Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying and certain other activities |
| 89(R) | HB 5658 | 03/28/2025 | Relating to the creation of the Craver Ranch Municipal Management District No. 1; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments and fees; granting a limited power of eminent domain |
| 89(R) | HB 5483 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the composition of the juvenile board of Grayson County |
| 89(R) | HB 5482 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to renewable energy generation and energy storage facilities |
| 89(R) | HB 5314 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the establishment and duties of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council |
| 89(R) | HB 5187 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to certain municipal regulation of conversion of certain office buildings to mixed-use and multifamily residential occupancy |
| 89(R) | HB 5161 | 03/14/2025 | Relating to the authority of the officer or employee designated by the governing body of a municipality to calculate certain ad valorem tax rates of the municipality to recalculate those rates |
| 89(R) | HB 5083 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the adoption and review of rules by state agencies |
| 89(R) | HB 4994 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to a study by the Department of State Health Services regarding the effects of online activity on children |
| 89(R) | HB 4955 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to lighting equipment requirements for motor vehicles |
| 89(R) | HB 4860 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying and certain other activities |
| 89(R) | HB 131 | 03/13/2025 | Relating to affiliation with certain foreign entities of certain persons working or participating in the electricity market; increasing an administrative penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 4378 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to affiliation with certain foreign entities of certain persons working or participating in the electricity market; increasing an administrative penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 4353 | 03/11/2025 | Relating to voter approval of a project to construct or install a wind power, solar power, or energy storage facility in certain counties |
| 89(R) | HB 4272 | 03/10/2025 | Relating to the relocation or adjustment of certain facilities for certain municipal projects |
| 89(R) | HB 4090 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the total appraised value of the residence homesteads of certain disabled first responders and their surviving spouses |
| 89(R) | HB 4061 | 03/07/2025 | Relating to unlawful practices relating to credit card transactions; providing a civil penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 4010 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to a school district’s library collection development policies; authorizing a civil penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 3997 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to permit application review and contested case procedures for environmental permits involving a project to construct or modify a liquefied natural gas export terminal; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 3980 | 03/06/2025 | Relating to the regulation of fantasy contests; requiring an occupational license; imposing an administrative penalty; authorizing fees; imposing a tax |
| 89(R) | HB 3859 | 03/05/2025 | Relating to motor vehicle franchised dealers and the reimbursement of motor vehicle franchised dealers by manufacturers and distributors for warranty, recall, over-the-air, and preparation and delivery work |
| 89(R) | HB 3727 | 03/04/2025 | Relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects |
| 89(R) | HB 3610 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to a prohibition against the consideration of race or ethnicity as a factor when appointing the members of a state board, commission, or other state agency with statewide jurisdiction |
| 89(R) | HB 3606 | 03/03/2025 | Relating to an exemption from teacher certification examinations for certain persons who graduated from general academic teaching institutions |
| 89(R) | HB 3458 | 02/27/2025 | Relating to the source of dogs and cats sold by pet stores; providing a civil penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 3374 | 02/26/2025 | Relating to electricity pricing rules and operating procedures that eliminate or compensate for market distortion caused by certain federal tax credits |
| 89(R) | HB 3356 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to reliability requirements for certain electric generation facilities |
| 89(R) | HB 3348 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to the creation and operations of a health care provider participation program in certain counties |
| 89(R) | HB 3329 | 02/25/2025 | Relating to fee waivers for certain hunting and fishing licenses for honorably discharged veterans 65 years old or older |
| 89(R) | HB 3244 | 02/24/2025 | Relating to the location of and light pollution mitigation for wind turbine generators; authorizing an administrative penalty |
| 89(R) | HB 3076 | 02/20/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to use certain tax revenue for certain qualified projects |
| 89(R) | HB 2895 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to the legal justification for using force or deadly force in response to the commission or attempted commission of a violent felony |
| 89(R) | HB 2893 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to authorization by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for certain public junior colleges to offer certain baccalaureate degree programs |
| 89(R) | HB 2890 | 02/14/2025 | Relating to an interstate compact for the liquefied natural gas industry |
| 89(R) | HB 2559 | 02/07/2025 | Relating to the imposition by a municipality of a moratorium on property development in certain circumstances |
| 89(R) | HB 2372 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain special districts to use operation and maintenance ad valorem tax funds to pay the costs of contracting for or employing peace officers |
| 89(R) | HB 2369 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to the processes for and the adjudication and payment of certain claims under the workers’ compensation system |
| 89(R) | HB 2366 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to the applicability to election judges of a prohibition on the carrying of a concealed handgun at a polling place |
| 89(R) | HB 2363 | 02/03/2025 | Relating to the authority of certain peace officers to arrest a person without a warrant while outside the officer’s jurisdiction |
| 89(R) | HB 1897 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to requirements for the approval by the Public Utility Commission of Texas of certain coastal facilities for the provision of electric service |
| 89(R) | HB 1895 | 01/16/2025 | Relating to the operation or expansion of a wind-powered generation facility |
| 89(R) | HB 1815 | 01/10/2025 | Relating to the determination of resident status of students by public institutions of higher education |
| 89(R) | HB 1812 | 01/10/2025 | Relating to the maintenance and use of common areas owned by a property owners’ association |
| 89(R) | HB 1639 | 12/16/2024 | Relating to a study on the increased incidence of cancer in female firefighters in this state |
| 89(R) | HB 1566 | 12/10/2024 | Relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain foreign entities |
| 89(R) | HB 1494 | 12/03/2024 | Relating to venue in certain actions challenging the constitutionality, validity, or applicability of state agency administrative rules |
| 89(R) | HB 1456 | 11/22/2024 | Relating to the creation of the office of inspector general at the Texas Education Agency to investigate complaints by parents of children enrolled in public school |
| 89(R) | HB 1294 | 11/13/2024 | Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying and certain other activities |
| 89(R) | HB 647 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the removal of certain restrictions imposed on driver’s licenses; authorizing a fee |
| 89(R) | HB 621 | 11/12/2024 | Relating to the authority of a property owners’ association to regulate the assembly, association, and speech of property owners or residents related to governmental officials or candidates for political office |
