TX HB4890

Expands mandatory appointment of attorneys ad litem for children to all suits filed by governmental entities under Subtitle E of the Family Code, rather than only cases seeking termination of parental rights or conservatorship

Requires courts in each county to jointly develop and adopt a fee schedule for compensating appointed attorneys ad litem, including payments for court appearances, out-of-court work, and reimbursement for reasonable expenses

Creates an appeal process allowing attorneys whose payment vouchers are denied, modified, or not approved within 60 days to petition the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region for review and payment determination within 45 days

Authorizes courts to remove attorneys from the qualified appointment list after notice and hearing if they submitted vouchers for services not actually performed

Requires fee schedules to be adopted by January 1, 2026, with the new compensation provisions applying to attorneys appointed on or after that date; the Act takes effect September 1, 2025