TX SB1838

Expands mandatory attorney ad litem appointments in government-filed suits seeking termination of parental rights or conservator appointment to cover all governmental entity cases, not just those filed under Subtitle E of the Family Code

Requires courts in each county to jointly develop and adopt a fee schedule for compensating attorneys ad litem representing indigent parents or children, with the schedule due by January 1, 2026

Fee schedules must include payment rates for in-court and out-of-court time, reimbursement for travel expenses and expert witness costs, and consider overhead costs and availability of qualified attorneys willing to serve

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

Creates an appeal process where attorneys whose payment claims are denied, modified, or not acted upon within 60 days may petition the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region for review and payment order within 45 days