TX HB3597

Raises the county population threshold for public hearing requirements from 300,000 to 500,000 for licensing or expanding residential child-care facilities, including general residential operations, cottage home operations, and continuum-of-care residential operations

Requires applicants in counties with populations under 500,000 to conduct a public hearing at their own expense and notify the commission of the hearing date, time, and location

Requires applicants to publish notice of the application in a newspaper of general circulation in the community where child-care services are proposed

Updates statutory references from "department" to "commission" to reflect current agency structure

Takes effect September 1, 2025; passed unanimously in the House (148-0) on May 6, 2025, and Senate (31-0) on May 25, 2025