# 119-s-4797: Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act

119-s-4797, Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4797
- As of: 2026-07-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4797
- Congress: 119
- Title: Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-16
- Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Families
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-10

## Summary

**Legal help for foster youth** would be added to the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program, and states would have to factor housing, education, employment, and family-relationship legal issues into case planning for current and former foster youth. - Current and former foster youth — Would gain access to "legal counseling access" as an eligible Chafee service to help with housing, education, entry into employment, and maintaining family connections. - State leaders and child welfare agencies — Would need a certification from the state's chief executive that case plans and related processes consider legal issues such as State court records, legal recognition of family relationships, and matters relating to custody and permanency. - Timing and compliance — The changes would take effect 1 year after enactment and apply to plans approved by the Department of Health and Human Services on or after that date. If a State needs new laws to comply the deadline can be delayed until after the State's next regular legislative session.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-06-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More legal help for foster youth: benefit, medium. If enacted, this bill would add legal counseling access to the Chafee program for current and former foster youth. Changes would take effect one year after enactment and apply to State plans HHS approves on or after that date. Each State's chief executive would have to certify that case planning co…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-4949: Water Resources Development Act of 2026
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-3492: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025
- 119-s-93: Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025
- 119-s-2904: SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-4797 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4797)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-4949: Water Resources Development Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4949)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-3492: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3492)
- [119-s-93: Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-93)
- [119-s-2904: SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2904)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4797 (as of 2026-07-10).