03/09/2026
👉 What are your thoughts on this??
A Texas law is going viral right now — and many people can’t believe it’s real.
Texas passed a law requiring convicted drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a child’s parent or guardian.
House Bill 393, known as Bentley’s Law, was signed by Governor Greg Abbott and took effect on September 1, 2023.
The law was inspired by a devastating 2021 crash in Missouri that killed a mother, father, and their 4-year-old son. Two surviving boys, Bentley and Mason, were left to be raised by their grandmother.
She spent two years pushing lawmakers to hold drunk drivers financially responsible for the children they leave behind.
Tennessee passed the first version of the law in 2022. Texas followed, and more than a dozen other states have introduced similar bills.
Under the law, a judge determines monthly payments based on the child’s needs and the offender’s financial resources.
Payments continue until the child turns 18 or graduates high school.
Even if the driver is in prison, the financial obligation continues after their release.
The law was signed in 2023 but continues resurfacing online as more people learn about it.
Do you think every state should pass a law like this?
