# 119-s-1297: Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025

119-s-1297, Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1297
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1297
- Congress: 119
- Title: Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-04-03
- Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI)
- Cosponsors: 28
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Guarantee government-funded counsel for unaccompanied children in immigration court.** The bill would require timely access to each child's full immigration A-file and set firm review windows for counsel. - Children and families: Unaccompanied children would be appointed or provided counsel at government expense. HHS must inform the child within 72 hours of custody and representation must continue through all stages, including after age 18 or reunification. - Counsel and legal providers: Counsel would receive a complete copy of the child's A-file within 7 days after a notice to appear and be given at least 10 days to review the materials unless that time is waived. The bill funds pro bono recruitment, training, and model guidelines and sets clear duties for attorneys. - Detained noncitizens and agencies: DHS must ensure access to counsel inside ICE and CBP facilities, including private detention contractors. HHS and the Department of Justice must report yearly on who received counsel and how pro bono networks were built, and a failure to appoint counsel would allow a motion to reopen to stay removal.

## Cosponsors (28)

- Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA] (D-PA), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA] (D-GA), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-04-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2025-04-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2025-04-07T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More legal help and case access: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would let the government provide lawyers at no cost to many noncitizens and require quick appointment and notice for unaccompanied children. HHS would have to tell a child within 72 hours of custody and appoint a lawyer by the earlier of a Notice to Appear or placement in HHS c…
- HHS pro bono program and funding: benefit, medium. If enacted, HHS would be required to build a pro bono program to find, train, and oversee volunteer lawyers for unaccompanied children. ORR would write model guidelines with DOJ, DHS, and nonprofits and HHS must keep representation continuous if a private lawyer stops. The bill would authorize ORR…
- Rule for PAYGO budget scoring: mixed, low. If enacted, the bill would require PAYGO budget effects to be determined using the latest PAYGO statement the Senate Budget Chairman submitted before the vote on passage. This is a technical rule for budget scoring and would not itself change benefits or taxes.

## Related bills

- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025
- 119-s-2523: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-1297 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1297)

## Related
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-852)
- [119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2150)
- [119-s-2523: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2523)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1297 (as of 2026-08-11).