Video & Transcript : 'licensed foster parent' :
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FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Feb 11th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- It's going to be with post adoptive parents and then young parents who have spent time in the system
- This facility is licensed for 14 vets and currently has 12 youth placed.
- The timeframe for licensing any facility can vary by the facility.
- I'm gonna ask you specifically so I would apply to be a license. Bq RTP provider today.
- And these are foster parents. These are parents that that that took the child in.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children (7-30-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- And I say this as a former foster parent, and I can tell you I've had a couple of kiddos in my house,
- , or foster parents, could provide services under this waiver.
- </c><00:40:17.040><c> or</c><00:40:17.280><c> foster</c><00:40:17.680><c> parents</c> not relatives parents
- or foster parents not relatives parents or foster parents could<00:40:18.240><c> provide</c><00:40:18.640
- I'm a parent<00:45:48.720><c> advocate.</c> parent advocate. parent advocate.
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and first heard brief presentations on Kentucky’s 2025 Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant and Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant. Department for Public Health staff explained that the preventive health block grant provides about $2.3 million annually and supports programs such as accreditation and performance improvement, local health department grants, community health workers, prescription assistance, asthma and COPD programs, workforce development, and a sexual assault programs set-aside. They said the Title V block grant provides about $11.7 million, with 35% directed to children and youth with special health care needs and 65% to maternal and child health populations, largely through local health departments and a five-year needs assessment process.
After no questions, a motion was made and seconded to approve both block grants. The roll call vote passed 19-0, and the two block grants were approved. The committee then approved the minutes from the prior meeting.
The next item was a discussion of the child waiver created in House Bill 6. Committee members raised concerns that the proposed 1915(c) waiver did not match the legislature’s intent, which they said was to move children from the Michelle P. waiver to free slots for adults. Cabinet officials from DCBS, behavioral health, and Medicaid described the proposed “Community Health for Improved Lives and Development” waiver as a targeted home- and community-based program for children under 21 with severe behavioral health or developmental needs, including those stepping down from inpatient or residential care or at risk of out-of-home placement. They said the waiver is designed for about 100 slots, uses a standardized needs-based assessment, and includes case management, community living supports, home modifications, respite, supervised residential care, and clinical therapeutic services. Officials said the public comment period ended July 15, responses are being compiled for August submission to CMS, and the waiver is part of the broader Families First initiative.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Most importantly, I’m a parent.
- as a parent.
- The RFA was largely designed for licensing foster parents in traditional foster homes and does not fully
- The RFA was largely designed for licensing foster parents in traditional foster homes and does not fully
- , adoptive parents, and guardianship parents throughout California.
Committee:
Senate Human Services
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 11th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- My mom was a foster parent for 30 years, started in her early 20s.
- My mom wasn't just a foster parent.
- My mom wasn't just a foster parent.
- Carroll placed him with Virgie Taylor and her husband, my first foster parents, until my mom could come
- children of California are not the responsibility of the foster parents.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- We, of course, also promote, as a first line, talking about parents and parents’ role.
- And so that should be our norm, is that parents engage in this and that parents need to not be fearful
- I also think, though, that there are some parents that don’t do that.
- So what we have, what these providers provide, they provide foster parent recruitment, licensing, kinship
- case, specialized foster care, therapeutic foster care, adoption, and guardianship subsidies.
Committee:
House Children and Families
Summary:
The Committee on Children and Families heard public testimony on House Bills 1839, 2921, and 3015, all aimed at requiring age verification for access to online pornography. The sponsors argued the bills are needed to protect children from early exposure, exploitation, sextortion, and related harms, and said the measures mirror laws in other states and recent Texas litigation. Supporters, including the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund, pediatric sexual assault nurse examiners, child advocacy groups, the Missouri Catholic Conference, and the Attorney General’s office, testified that pornography contributes to child sexual abuse risk, addiction, and unhealthy sexual development. Committee members asked about privacy protections, enforcement, penalties, and whether third-party verification or website-based verification would be used; the Attorney General’s office said identifying information should not be retained and that enforcement would occur through court action. No one testified in opposition, and the hearing concluded with the bills remaining under consideration, with a committee substitute to follow for one portion of the legislation.
The committee then heard House Bill 2610, which would use the state legal expense fund to cover claims and judgments involving foster care, case management, and residential service providers under contract with the state. Representative Murphy and supporters said the private insurance market for these providers has become unstable and unaffordable, with some agencies facing large premium increases, repeated denials, or inability to find coverage at all. Testimony from the Missouri Coalition for Children, Missouri Alliance for Children and Families, Family Forward, and the Attorney General’s office described the issue as a market failure that could force providers to close and disrupt services for foster children. The Attorney General’s office explained how legal expense fund coverage would work, noted that it can cover negligence and intentional acts for covered entities, and said the bill would shift risk to the state in the absence of adequate private insurance. No opposition was offered.
Finally, Representative Terry briefly presented House Bill 24, describing it as the same as Representative Dolan’s grandparents’ bill and emphasizing that grandparents should have first consideration for custody if a child’s parents are unable to care for them. No testimony was offered on the bill. The committee then moved into executive session and voted do pass on House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1696, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2505 and 24, and House Bill 1772, each by unanimous 14-0 votes. The meeting then adjourned.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- parents, even if they go into foster care for the wrong reason.
- My name is Jeremy Rudolph, and I've been a licensed Idaho foster parent since 2022.
- I made sure that I did the right thing as a foster parent, and I reported everything.
- Members of the committee, I'm here as a foster parent. I'm not a policy expert.
- I'm here as a foster parent. I'm not a policy expert.
Committee:
Senate Judiciary and Rules
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services (Part I) May 21st, 2025
Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- a foster family.
- The baby experienced another brain bleed with the very loving foster parent nurse that the baby was placed
- The hospital... will accuse the foster parents of now shaking the baby and causing another brain bleed
- And those foster parents are now on the list as well. Yeah, obviously big problems in that regard.
- The pay difference is significant, going from $380 per month when not licensed to around $812 as a foster
Bills:
HB 1106 , HB3284 , HB541 , HB713 , HB1403 , HB1586 , HB1942 , HB2070 , HB2844 , HB2851 , HB3151 , HB3749 , HB3940 , HB3963 , HB4454 , HB4466 , HB4795 , HB5154 , HB5394 , SB1357 , HB 1052 , HB4099 , HB4638 , HB5147
Committee:
Senate Health & Human Services
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services May 21st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- parents.
- The department has been very closely engaged with both foster family insurance agency or foster family
- One is related to single parent families, one parent families, and one is related to two parent families
- And my daughter is a child with autism, she's 11 years old, I'm a homeschooling parent, I'm also a foster
- parent to my daughter.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
JLCAR Administrative Rules (09/18/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- You move from that permit to the license, and that license can be renewed.
- You move from that permit to the license, and that license can be renewed.
- You move from that permit to the license, and that license can be renewed.
- You move from that permit to the license, and that license can be renewed.
- and that license permit to the license and that license can<00:14:41.760><c> be</c><00:14:42.000><c>
Summary:
The committee opened its September meeting, seated alternates to establish a quorum, approved the prior minutes and consent agenda, and then moved to the regular calendar. The main substantive item was the kinship care home licensing standards rule (2025-130), which had a conditional approval request with three comments. Committee discussion focused on whether the rule and statute aligned on temporary permits, renewal, and whether a statutory amendment might be needed. Department of Health and Human Services and DCF staff explained that kinship care licenses are issued for two years and may be renewed, while the temporary six-month permit is meant to bridge applicants until licensure. They also said the rule was amended to reflect statutory language, and members suggested adding clearer language to avoid confusion. The committee then approved the conditional request, including oral amendments for clarity, and noted that any needed statutory cleanup would be added to a running list of possible changes for future filing.
The committee next took up an emergency rule from the Lottery Commission concerning games of chance and video lottery terminals. Staff said the emergency rule was needed to avoid substantial fiscal harm to the state and loss of expected revenue, and that it largely builds on existing charitable gaming infrastructure. Members questioned the emergency basis and asked about precedent for using fiscal harm as justification, but staff said they did not have precedent information immediately available. The commission representative said regular rulemaking was already underway and would be brought to the commission at its October meeting. The committee did not take adverse action on the emergency rule during the discussion.
Finally, the committee reviewed Department of Safety Commissioner Emergency Rule 14357 on school bus transportation qualifications. The rule creates an exception for applicants whose driver’s license validity had a gap of no more than 30 days due to suspension or non-renewal, which staff said would help address a school bus driver shortage and reduce transportation problems for students. Members raised the possibility of a legislative fix to distinguish administrative lapses from safety-related suspensions, and staff said that could be considered. The committee noted the emergency rule is only effective for 180 days and will return through regular rulemaking for fuller review. The meeting ended with scheduling for the next regular meeting on October 17 and adjournment.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Jul 8th, 2026
Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- with a nanny hired by the fake intended parents, and finally ended up in British foster care.
- Intended parents. Intended parents.
- You know, there's a part of me that we have a foster care system and an adoption network for parents
- So if, for example, a foster parent that lived recently in Texas wants to be a foster parent in Oklahoma
- A foster parent in Oklahoma, Oklahoma may request that we run that central registry check.
Committee:
Senate Health & Human Services
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services May 21st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- parents.
- One is related to single-parent families, one is related to two-parent families.
- I'm a parent provider. There. Breathe, girl. Breathe. Yeah, thank you. I'm a parent provider.
- I'm a homeschooling parent.
- I'm also a foster parent to my niece who uses Medi-Cal for a lot of services.
Summary:
The hearing began with opening remarks on the Governor’s May Revision for child care and human services, with committee members and advocates stressing that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of low-income families, children, and providers. Legislative members and public witnesses strongly opposed the proposed suspension of the child care COLA, reductions to the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program, and the lack of codified rate reform tied to the alternative methodology. Several speakers also urged more support for providers affected by the Eaton fire and other disasters, and called for child care to be funded at the true cost of care and for additional slots to be restored.
Administration, LAO, and Department of Education staff described the child care proposal as maintaining existing funding levels while adding administrative resources to prepare for federally required prospective payment changes and single-rate reform. The administration said the May Revision would suspend the 2025–26 COLA and reduce Bridge Program funding to align with utilization, while the LAO raised questions about the size and purpose of the proposed rate-reform and prospective-payment funding and recommended rejecting a Department of Technology exemption. CDE supported continued early education investments but said it would need additional resources if prospective pay were extended to state preschool, and it objected to a proposed reallocation of preschool funds for inclusive education grants.
The committee then moved to the IHSS portion of the May Revision. DSS outlined five major proposals: capping provider work hours at 50 per week, eliminating IHSS for undocumented adults age 19 and older, shifting certain Community First Choice reassessment penalties to counties, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset test as a conforming IHSS reduction, and automating the termination of IHSS when Medi-Cal eligibility ends. DSS also discussed funding to implement a federal HCBS access rule and a separate reassessment of IHSS administrative methodology that found counties would need additional administrative funding. Finance said the proposals were intended to slow program growth and improve sustainability, while the LAO said it was still analyzing the package and raised concerns about implementation, county workload, and the potential loss of services.
Committee members and public commenters criticized the IHSS cuts, especially the overtime cap and the elimination of services for undocumented adults and people affected by the asset test. Advocates argued that IHSS workers and recipients depend on these services, that county administration is already underfunded, and that the proposals could destabilize vulnerable consumers. The chair closed by saying the committee would continue to fight for child care and would not pause on child care, and the meeting recessed before moving on to the remaining May Revision items.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Health and Human Services REVISED Apr 20th, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Are we talking about kiddos and foster care? Thank you for the question.
- This is Yes, it could be for foster care as well.
- And so we're just clarifying specifically in regards to adopted and foster families.
- We know that a large majority of the foster and adoptive parents here in Oklahoma are faith-based.
- in foster care?
Bills:
HB1979 , HB1225 , HB3931 , HB4454 , HB3849 , HB1746 , HB3720 , HB4275 , HB4300 , HB3586 , HB2268 , HB3755 , HB4117 , HB4294 , HB3650 , HB4298
Committee:
Senate Health and Human Services
Keywords:
early childhood education, task force, governance structure, healthcare access, stakeholder engagement, quality services, vital records, birth certificate, birth registration, biological sex, sex designation, male, female, nonbinary, gender identity, X marker, transgender, vital statistics, State Department of Health, State Commissioner of Health
OK
Bills:
SB1936 , SB1612 , SB1543 , SB1260 , SB1988 , SB1859 , SB2041 , SB1257 , HB4272 , HB3277 , HB3148 , HB3651 , HB3323 , HB4287 , HB4105 , HB3304 , HB3345
Committee:
Senate Public Safety
Keywords:
forfeiture, criminal offenses, law enforcement, Class D1 offenses, property seizure, SB1612, mandatory reporting, violent injury reporting, gunshot wound, stab wound, poisoning, burn injury, explosive injury, medical reporting, healthcare providers, law enforcement notification, evidence preservation, patient video records, confidentiality waiver, misdemeanor penalty
IA
Bills:
HF113 , HSB107 , HF120 , HSB108 , HF186 , HF136 , HF33 , HSB97 , HSB34 , HF80 , SF12 , SF14 , SF60 , SF61 , SF72 , SSB1066 , SSB1067 , SF141 , SSB1077
Committee:
Joint Education
Keywords:
HF 113, Iowa school finance, small school districts, budget enrollment, 200 students, physical plant and equipment levy, PPEL, public education and recreation levy, PERL, Secure an Advanced Vision for Education, SAVE fund, revenue purpose statement, general fund flexibility, school district levy, voter approval, 60 percent threshold, local option tax, unencumbered funds, unobligated funds, school district budgeting
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Apr 29th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I think that as parents, potentially foster parents, adoptive parents in this case, we know that the
- I do believe that the parents know.
- parents knowing best.
- , and their parents kicked them out.
- They need to grow and develop, and we should expect foster parents to try to understand the kids that
Bills:
HB2268 , HB3000 , HB3043 , HB3066 , HB3078 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB3320 , HB3467 , HB3321 , HB3329 , HB3431 , HB3464 , HB3499 , HB3500 , HB3586 , HB3590 , HB3650 , HB3671 , HB3695 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB3764 , HB3767 , HB3834 , HB3931 , HB3934 , HB3940 , HB3944 , HB3979 , HB3985 , HB4113 , HB4294 , HB4302 , HB4317 , HB4324 , HB4359 , HB4426 , HB4427 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB4434 , HJR1077 , SR42 , SR35 , HJR1023 , HB1225 , HB1374 , HB1381 , HB1590 , HB1675 , HB2153
Keywords:
HB2268, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, OHCA, appropriation, General Revenue Fund, PACE, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, elderly care, aging Oklahomans, long-term care, Medicaid, health care funding, provider reimbursement, rate increase, low-income seniors, senior services, integrated care, emergency measure, cosmetology, barbering
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Apr 29th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It is a no-brewer licensee shall require a licensed distributor to accept delivery of any beer that such
- licensee or licensed distributor did not order.
- but I still remember us taking shelter in tornadoes, how we did evacuation, how we communicated to parents
- or sexual predators from ending up at our camps in Oklahoma, and My bill was actually just to let parents
- So, there are camps in our state that don't do background checks, and the parents are completely unaware
Bills:
HB2268 , HB3000 , HB3043 , HB3066 , HB3078 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB3320 , HB3467 , HB3321 , HB3329 , HB3431 , HB3464 , HB3499 , HB3500 , HB3586 , HB3590 , HB3650 , HB3671 , HB3695 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB3764 , HB3767 , HB3834 , HB3931 , HB3934 , HB3940 , HB3944 , HB3979 , HB3985 , HB4113 , HB4294 , HB4302 , HB4317 , HB4324 , HB4359 , HB4426 , HB4427 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB4434 , HJR1077 , SR42 , SR35 , HJR1023 , HB1225 , HB1374 , HB1381 , HB1590 , HB1675 , HB2153
Keywords:
HB2268, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, OHCA, appropriation, General Revenue Fund, PACE, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, elderly care, aging Oklahomans, long-term care, Medicaid, health care funding, provider reimbursement, rate increase, low-income seniors, senior services, integrated care, emergency measure, cosmetology, barbering
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- to support the foster care system in the state.
- This is for education and training for the DCFS family services staff, foster parents, and students.
- It's for therapeutic foster care. 109 is with CET of Arkansas, also therapeutic foster care. 110 is with
- They're qualified residential treatment, licensed placement agencies, and therapeutic foster care. 116
- licensed placement agency. 128 is The Answer Foster Care, a private licensed placement agency. 129 is
Committee:
All ALC-REVIEW
Summary:
The committee met to review a supplemental agenda, procurement rule revisions, methods of finance, discretionary grants, contracts, and a member disclosure. The Office of State Procurement presented rule changes tied to 2025 legislative changes, including Act 782, with updates to sole-source definitions, unrealistic bids, protest requirements, debarment procedures, and recodification references; the committee voted to accept the supplemental agenda and approve the rules. Members also approved eight methods of finance covering university repairs, equipment replacement, property purchase, and capital projects, along with a large slate of discretionary grants for courts, health, DHS, historic preservation, and tobacco prevention programs.
The committee then reviewed RFQs and six ratifications. The ratifications included a Workforce Connections payment to ACT WorkKeys, Department of Health costs from an ice-storm-related water leak, a large Department of Public Safety ratification for Motorola’s Arkansas Wireless Information Network upgrade, Veterans Affairs HVAC and medical-service payments, and a UA Little Rock painting contract. The Department of Public Safety ratification drew extended questioning about why the expired Motorola contract had not been renewed sooner and why the issue took months to reach the committee; agency officials said the project was bond-funded, had not been tracked in ASIS, and involved ongoing negotiations and system updates. Despite concerns, the committee approved the ratifications.
Members also reviewed a long list of construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including numerous university, DHS, health, corrections, and state agency agreements. Several contracts were discussed in more detail, including an SAU custodial contract question about sales tax and transparency reporting, and Department of Corrections aerial application contracts for Tucker and Cummins farms, which officials said served separate facilities in different parts of the state. The committee approved the contract lists, reviewed reports, and accepted a disclosure from Representative Andrew Collins regarding his investment interest in a company leasing property to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services before adjourning.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- This is for education and training for the DCFS Family Services staff, foster parents, and students.
- This is for education and training for the DCFS Family Services staff, foster parents, and students.
- It's for therapeutic foster care. 109 is with CET of Arkansas, also therapeutic foster care. 110 is with
- They're qualified residential treatment, licensed placement agencies, and therapeutic foster care. 113
- They're qualified residential treatment, licensed placement agencies, and therapeutic foster care. 116
Committee:
All ALC-REVIEW
Summary:
The committee met to review a supplemental agenda item, procurement rule revisions, methods of finance, discretionary grants, contracts, reports, and a member disclosure. The supplemental agenda was accepted, and the Office of State Procurement’s rule revisions were approved after Jessica Patterson explained they were driven by 2025 legislative changes, including Act 782, CASO Consulting recommendations, and updates to sole source, bid, protest, and debarment provisions. The methods of finance and discretionary grants were also approved, covering a range of university capital projects, health and human services grants, historic preservation awards, and tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
The committee then reviewed RFQs and six ratifications. The ratifications included a Workforce Connections payment to ACT WorkKeys for services provided during a contract gap, a Department of Health ratification for water-leak repairs, a large Department of Public Safety ratification for Motorola’s Arkansas Wireless Information Network upgrade, a Veterans Affairs HVAC ratification, an ADFA medical services ratification, and a UA Little Rock painting contract ratification. Members questioned the Public Safety ratification at length about why the expired Motorola contract was not caught sooner and why it took months after discovery to come forward; agency officials said the work was tied to bond funding and was not tracked in ASIS, and the chair urged agencies to develop better monitoring procedures.
The committee approved a large slate of construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including many recurring service agreements for DHS, higher education institutions, corrections, health agencies, and state support functions. Several members asked about specific contracts, including aerial application services for correctional farms and a Southern Arkansas University custodial contract, and staff or agency representatives provided brief explanations. The meeting concluded with review of reports and approval of a member disclosure involving Representative Andrew Collins’ investment interest in a company leasing property to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 11th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- My mom was a foster parent for 30 years, started in her early 20s.
- My mom wasn't just a foster parent.
- Carroll placed him with Virgie Taylor and her husband, my first foster parents, until my mom could come
- Carroll, placed him with Virgie Taylor and her husband, my first foster parents, until my mom could come
- children of California are not the responsibility of the foster parents.
Summary:
The Assembly met in session after a quorum call and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a ceremonial observance for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Members from multiple caucuses spoke in support of House Resolution 107, which designates May as AAPI Heritage Month, emphasizing the community’s contributions, resilience, and the need to confront discrimination and hate. The resolution was adopted, and the chamber then recognized 13 honorees for the 2026 AAPI Heritage Month celebration, highlighting leaders in education, business, labor, media, cultural preservation, and public service.
After guest introductions, the Assembly took up a series of bills. Measures discussed included HOA reserve funding for common interest developments (AB 2050), professional review requirements for lawsuits against design professionals (AB 2106), direct home delivery of enteral formula (AB 1794), expanded CalWORKs-related support for student parents (AB 1829), longer insurance moratoriums for wildfire survivors (AB 2038), election cybersecurity (AB 2281), medical privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care (AB 2448), water district board compensation (AB 2568), county public contract change-order authority (AB 1658), and several other education, health, and licensing bills. Most measures passed with broad support; AB 2050 passed 44-6, AB 2038 passed 45-8, AB 2448 passed 49-13, and AB 1658 passed 61-2, while several others passed unanimously or near-unanimously.
The Assembly also adopted AJR 29, a resolution opposing a federal executive order affecting vote-by-mail and affirming California’s mail voting system. The resolution prompted extended debate over election integrity, voter access, and federal versus state authority, with supporters arguing mail voting is secure and accessible and opponents calling for stronger voter list maintenance and verification. The resolution passed 47-13. In addition, ACR 141 and ACR 123 were adopted by voice vote after co-author roll calls, and the chamber continued or passed on numerous other file items as it worked through the daily file.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/31/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- And to take it one step further, I was also a foster parent to two children that were in abused situations
- parent for 18 years.
- I am an Arizona constituent, and my husband and I are former foster parents.
- I come to you today because we as foster parents should not have to sue DCS to follow their own policy
- Lieutenant Foster. Thank you. Who's next? Lieutenant Foster. Are you Lieutenant Foster? Yes, sir.
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 2615, as amended by a strike-everything amendment creating an Independent Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety with 15 members, authority to review DCS data and practices, request briefings and audits, conduct site visits, and receive confidential complaints, with a $2.2 million FY 2027 appropriation. The sponsor and several parents and foster/adoptive caregivers testified in support, describing child safety failures and arguing for independent accountability, while some members questioned whether the Ombudsman’s office was the right home for the committee and suggested other oversight structures. The amendment was adopted, but the bill itself failed on a 5-5 vote.
House Bill 2620, which would appropriate $300,000 annually from FY 2027 through FY 2031 to the Arizona Department of Veterans Services for grants to emergency shelters serving veterans, received strong support from the sponsor and shelter advocates who said the funding would help move homeless veterans toward stable housing and connect them with VA services. Members emphasized veterans’ service and the need for trauma-informed case management, and the bill passed with a 10-0 do-pass recommendation. House Bill 2321, requiring DCS to place and later remove a credit freeze for children in care to prevent identity theft, also passed unanimously after the sponsor and members discussed the administrative process and protections for foster youth.
The committee then considered House Bill 2601, directing ADOT to seek federal segmentation for the Interstate 11 project between Casa Grande and Wickenburg so environmental review could proceed separately from litigation affecting the southern portion. Supporters framed the bill as a bipartisan way to keep the project moving, while opponents from environmental groups and several members argued it would encourage sprawl, harm desert habitat, and add cost and delay; the bill passed 6-4. House Bill 2992, a pilot program for child sexual abuse and grooming awareness education in six public schools, drew testimony from a trafficking survivor and others who supported prevention efforts, but some members argued the topic should be handled through broader sex education or parent education; it passed 6-4. Later bills also advanced: HB 2156, appropriating $250,000 to the Livestock Compensation Fund, passed 7-3; HB 2165, exempting certain veterans and National Guard members from state park admission fees, passed 6-4 after amendment narrowing the exemption; HB 2960, creating a veterans specialty court grant program and related data-sharing requirements, passed 8-0; HB 2014, directing studies on gasoline blends and fuel feasibility amid EPA waiver concerns, passed 6-2; and HB 2957, preserving non-Real ID licenses and limiting biometric/data retention with a Kavanaugh amendment, passed 5-4-1.