TX HB2864

Replaces the "reasonable efforts" standard with a higher "active efforts" standard that the Department of Family and Protective Services must meet when attempting to return children to their families or prevent removal from homes

Defines "active efforts" as affirmative, thorough, and timely efforts to maintain or reunite families, including comprehensive family assessments, identifying appropriate services, helping parents overcome barriers, and actively assisting with accessing resources

Requires DFPS to conduct diligent searches for extended family members, keep siblings together when possible, support regular parent visits, identify community resources (housing, mental health, substance abuse services), and provide post-reunification monitoring

Applies the active efforts standard to multiple stages of child welfare proceedings, including emergency removals, adversary hearings, termination of parental rights cases, permanency hearings, and extended foster care reviews

Takes effect September 1, 2025, and applies to children in DFPS managing conservatorship for cases involving parental mental illness or deficiency as well as constructive abandonment situations