Senate Bill 25 01, explained to the committee by the Dean, would allow indigent parents in DFPS child‑welfare cases to select their own attorney to serve as attorney ad litem, provided the attorney is licensed and qualified. When a selected attorney files a notice of appearance, the substitute would terminate any previously appointed attorney ad litem and entitle the selected attorney to the same compensation county courts provide to court‑appointed counsel.

Multiple witnesses testified in support. Julia Hatcher, president of the Texas Association of Family Defense Attorneys, said the bill would give parents “the right to choose their own counsel” and could improve representation quality. Jeremy Newman, vice president of the Family Freedom Project, and Andrew Brown, vice president of policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, both urged the committee to grant parents the right to select counsel, arguing early, high‑quality representation improves outcomes. Newman said the bill would let families replace attorneys they perceive as not actively representing them. Brown said the bill mirrors prior measures that expanded family choice of service providers and argued it would improve access to counsel.

The Dean and witnesses confirmed the substitute does not change the funding mechanism: the selected attorney would be paid at the same rates used for court‑appointed counsel in the county. The committee heard no opposing testimony and left the bill pending; no committee vote was recorded during this session.