HF4217 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Medical assistance allowed to be paid for any person receiving foster care benefits past 18 years of age, terminology and definitions modified, and eligibility criteria and requirements related to extended foster care modified.
AI Generated Summary
- Purpose and Goals
- The bill aims to strengthen support for youths aging out of foster care by extending health coverage and foster care support into early adulthood, clarifying who is covered and under what conditions, and expanding planning and transition services.
Key aims include extended medical assistance (MA) eligibility for former foster youth, extended foster care placement and supports up to age 21 (with options to reenter up to age 21), improved transition planning, and enhanced definitions to cover more scenarios for custody and guardianship.
Main Provisions (What the bill changes or adds)
Health care for former foster youth (MA/Medicaid)
- Medical assistance may be paid for a person under 26 who was in foster care and under the state system during the age-18/19/20 period or who received foster care benefits past age 18.
- Coverage also extends to youths who were in foster care and enrolled in another state’s Medicaid program under federal law.
- The commissioner must seek federal waiver approval to include youths who aged out of foster care before January 1, 2023, even if they wouldn’t be eligible under the usual Medicaid rules.
Notice and eligibility to continue in foster care
- Six months before a child’s 18th birthday, agencies must notify about the option to continue foster care up to age 21 when eligible under certain criteria.
Definitions
- Adds a precise definition for “child in foster care,” including cases where permanent custody is transferred to a relative after age 10.
Independent Living Plan (ILP) and ongoing services
- For youth aged 14 and older, agencies must develop and update an ILP with the youth and other parties.
- For youths near or at 18, ILPs must address employment, education, and maturational needs and be submitted as part of court reviews; agencies must continue services to implement the ILP.
Eligibility to stay past age 18
- A youth who was in foster care immediately before turning 18 may stay past 18 unless: they can safely return home; they are in certain disability-related placements; or they can be adopted or have permanent custody transferred to a relative before 18.
Expanded eligibility criteria to stay until age 21
- To remain in or return to foster care through age 21, a youth must meet at least one of: completing secondary education or a credential program; enrollment in higher education or vocational training; participation in programs to promote employment; employment of at least 80 hours per month; or medical conditions that prevent the other activities.
Reentry and ongoing services after age 18
- If a young adult who was under guardianship left foster care without adoption, agencies must develop a plan to increase safety and independence and can offer foster care if the plan includes it.
- If a youth who was not under guardianship before 18 asks to reenter, the agency that planned before discharge must assess and provide foster care or related services to help meet eligibility criteria.
- A formal voluntary placement agreement can be used when the plan includes foster care.
- A youth who left foster care while under guardianship may reenter placement at any time before age 21.
Termination of foster care and appeals
- If a youth ceases to meet 3a eligibility criteria (for staying in foster care), the agency must give a 30-day written notice of termination and inform about court review options.
- The youth, guardian ad litem, or the court can review the agency’s decision; transition planning must accompany the termination notice; the agency is not responsible for payments after the youth leaves.
Scope and purpose for youth supports (new subsection)
- Defines “youth” as someone 14 to 23 years old.
- Outlines a broad set of supports in areas like education, employment, daily living skills (finance, driving), preventive health, connections with caring adults, age-appropriate activities, and financial/housing counseling.
- Allows for case management and supportive services up to age 23, even though foster care placement generally ends at age 21.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
Extends medical assistance coverage for former foster youth up to age 26, including those who aged out or were in foster care under the state program.
Extends foster care eligibility and supports up to age 21, with a pathway to continue or reenter through age 21, and a framework for reentry.
Introduces systematic, mandatory independent living planning starting at age 14, with ongoing court-involved reviews and transition planning.
Establishes a broad, flexible “youth” support framework (age 14–23) to provide education, employment, life skills, and other services beyond traditional foster care placement.
Adds explicit reentry pathways, voluntary placement arrangements, and guardian/guardianship considerations to facilitate ongoing supports into early adulthood.
Creates the potential for federal waivers (42 U.S.C. 1315) to extend Medicaid eligibility historically beyond typical limits for those who aged out before 2023.
Implementation and Oversight Considerations
Requires federal waiver applications to include the targeted population (former foster youth who aged out before 2023) for continued health coverage.
Adds formal notice requirements (six months before 18th birthday) and court-involved reviews for termination decisions.
Introduces formal transition plans and “transition out of foster care” plans linked to eligibility criteria and future supports.
Sets up ongoing agency responsibilities for independent living planning and case management up to age 23, with the possibility of extended supports even after placement ends.
Relevant Terms - foster care, medical assistance (MA), extended foster care, adults who were in foster care at age 18/19/20, 26 years old, 21 years old, 18th birthday, six months notice, guardian ad litem, permanent custody, transfer of permanent legal and physical custody, relative, adoption, independent living plan (ILP), 260C.451, 260C.452, 260C.212, 42 U.S.C. 1315, waiver, Affordable Care Act (ACA) section 2004, Public Law 115-271, voluntary placement agreement, reentry into foster care, transition plan, vouchers for education and training, employment requirements, age-appropriate activities, case management, guardianship, termination notice.
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Past committee meetings
- Children and Families Finance and Policy on: March 18, 2026 15:00
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Children and Families Finance and Policy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Creates MA eligibility for former foster youth under 26 who were in foster care at age 18–20 and who were enrolled in MA or a waiver while in foster care.",
"Adds a provision to seek a federal waiver under 42 U.S.C. § 1315 to include youth who aged out before 2023 without regard to certain eligibility under Medicaid."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Expands medical assistance eligibility for adults who were in foster care at age 18, 19, or 20, up to age 26, for those who were in foster care and enrolled in MA under the state plan or a waiver, or in other states’ Medicaid programs, and adds a federal waiver route under 42 U.S.C. § 1315.",
"modified": [
"Modifies existing MA eligibility provisions for former foster youth aging out of care by extending age limit and adding waiver mechanisms."
]
},
"citation": "256B.055",
"subdivision": "17"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds a notice requirement six months before the child’s 18th birthday regarding continued foster care up to age 21 for those eligible under later subdivisions."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Requires six months’ notice to facilitate foster care up to age 21 when youth cannot reasonably be returned home and are eligible under subdivisions 3 and 3a.",
"modified": [
"Reframes the notification requirement in the context of extended foster care eligibility."
]
},
"citation": "260C.451",
"subdivision": "1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Mandates ILP development/update in coordination with the youth and others for youth 14+."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Requires development and ongoing updates of the independent living plan (ILP) for youth 14 or older, including those approaching 18, and integrates ILP into required court reviews.",
"modified": [
"Expands ILP scope and ties it to extended foster care eligibility and transition planning."
]
},
"citation": "260C.451",
"subdivision": "2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Permits extended foster care beyond 18 under defined criteria."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Allows a child in foster care who turned 18 to continue in foster care past age 18 under specified conditions and exceptions.",
"modified": [
"Introduces statutory basis for continued foster care past 18 rather than mandatory discharge at 18."
]
},
"citation": "260C.451",
"subdivision": "3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Lists specific eligibility criteria (education, employment, programs to promote/remove barriers to employment, etc.)."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Establishes eligibility criteria to remain in or return to foster care through age 21, including education, employment, and maturation benchmarks.",
"modified": [
"Clarifies and codifies criteria for extended foster care eligibility."
]
},
"citation": "260C.451",
"subdivision": "3a"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Provides pathway to reenter foster care and access services after age 18."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Addresses reentry into foster care and services after age 18 up to 21, including plan development and voluntary placements.",
"modified": [
"Creates structured plan requirements and placement options to support transition."
]
},
"citation": "260C.451",
"subdivision": "6"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Requires 30-day termination notice and court review options; transition-out plan."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Notice of termination of foster care; requires written notice to youth and involvement of the court; transition planning.",
"modified": [
"Adds formal termination notice procedures and court involvement to terminate foster care benefits."
]
},
"citation": "260C.451",
"subdivision": "8"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines scope and purpose of the youth-focused provisions, including who is covered as a youth.",
"modified": [
"Establishes definitions and overarching purpose for extended foster care provisions."
]
},
"citation": "260C.452",
"subdivision": "1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Explicitly links transition planning to the required ILP and plan implementation."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Relates to transition, services, and plan implementation for youth aging out or reentering foster care.",
"modified": [
"Strengthens transition-support provisions and service continuity."
]
},
"citation": "260C.452",
"subdivision": "4, paragraph d"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Specifies eligibility criteria to remain in or return to foster care and the use of related provisions (260C.212; court reviews).",
"modified": [
"References eligibility criteria and related procedures for extended foster care in conjunction with 260C.212 and court reviews."
]
},
"citation": "260C.203",
"subdivision": "4, clause 2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Defines aspects of the independent living plan and youth-related planning, including paragraph c and clauses referenced in the bill.",
"modified": [
"Used as the framework for ILP requirements tied to extended foster care eligibility."
]
},
"citation": "260C.212",
"subdivision": "1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Specifies permissible activities and supports under the ILP and youth development provisions.",
"modified": [
"Expands or clarifies ILP-related activities and supports for youth over 18."
]
},
"citation": "260C.212",
"subdivision": "14"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Provides for voluntary placement agreements as part of transition and reentry planning.",
"modified": [
"Codifies use of voluntary placement agreements to support transition planning."
]
},
"citation": "260C.229",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to child welfare services duties; links foster care provisions to medical and welfare programs.",
"modified": [
"Incorporates cross-reference to protections under 256B.092."
]
},
"citation": "256B.092",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References federal legislation (Public Law 115-271) to support Medicaid-related provisions for former foster youth.",
"modified": [
"Uses Public Law 115-271 as a vehicle for Medicaid-related waivers or coverage provisions."
]
},
"citation": "Public Law 115-271",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Authorizes waivers of state plan requirements to include youth who aged out of foster care in Medicaid/coverage.",
"modified": [
"Invokes federal waiver authority under 42 U.S.C. § 1315 for extended foster youth eligibility."
]
},
"citation": "42 U.S.C. § 1315",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References ACA provisions related to coverage for individuals transitioning from foster care to adulthood.",
"modified": [
"Links foster care extensions to ACA coverage provisions."
]
},
"citation": "Affordable Care Act §2004",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to federal law for Medicaid-related changes; reiterated due to multiple references in the bill.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Public Law 115-271",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References to court review procedures related to extended foster care and termination decisions.",
"modified": [
"Involves court review aspects of extensions and termination under 260C.203/260C.515 framework."
]
},
"citation": "260C.317",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Addresses court review and specific subdivision-based criteria for reentry or continued foster care.",
"modified": [
"Clarifies review processes and eligibility when aging out and seeking continued services."
]
},
"citation": "260C.515",
"subdivision": "5 or 6"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Specifies required court review related to foster care transitions and ILP implementation.",
"modified": [
"Links ILP implementation and transition planning to court reviews under 260C.202(3)."
]
},
"citation": "260C.202",
"subdivision": "3"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee