Child in Need of Assistance - Proceedings - Child's Right to be Present

Summary

The bill gives any child who is the subject of a Child in Need of Assistance (CINA) proceeding the right to be present at that hearing. A court may keep the child out only if the child’s attorney waives the right or the court determines the child’s presence would not be in the child’s best interest, after first looking at less‑restrictive options. The law also requires the court to consider alternatives like schedule changes, remote participation, trauma‑informed support, or limiting time in the courtroom.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

Hearings

• Judicial Proceedings — Bill Hearing
  Judicial Proceedings · Apr 2, 2026
• Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee
  Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee · Apr 2, 2026
• Judiciary — Bill Hearing
  Judiciary · Feb 26, 2026

History

1. Mar 24, 2026Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m.
2. Mar 19, 2026Referred Judicial Proceedings
3. Mar 18, 2026Third Reading Passed
4. Mar 18, 2026Second Reading Passed with Amendments
5. Mar 18, 2026Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary
6. Mar 18, 2026Favorable with Amendments {
7. Feb 13, 2026Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m.
8. Feb 12, 2026First Reading Judiciary

Sponsors

• Woods · sponsor
• Alston
• Arikan
• Conaway
• Crutchfield
• Harrison
• Ivey
• J. Long
• McComas
• Moreno
• Patterson
• Phillips
• Roberson
• Roberts
• Ruth
• Simmons
• Stinnett
• Taylor
• Terrasa
• Turner
• Williams

Bill text

Opens the legislature’s own copy.

Similar bills in other states

Loading the map of where bills like this one were filed.

Topics

Share