All Roll Calls
Yes: 214 • No: 7
CaliforniaAB 13142025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
State oral health program.
Sponsored By: Patrick Ahrens (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Allowances and oversight for foster youth
The law requires each participant to get an allowance. If a participant lives on their own, the allowance must be enough to buy food and other basic needs. Programs must be able to pay utilities, phone, and rent for participants when needed. Units are furnished, and programs must have a rule for what happens to the furniture when a youth leaves. Programs must have a monitoring plan, sign a contract with each participant, and track and report each youth’s progress to the Independent Living Program and the department.
Clear rules and fair admissions for minors
Minor programs must have clear written rules on school, work, savings, safety, visitors, emergencies, medical care, pregnancy and childcare, curfews, cleanliness, utilities, money rules, vehicles, dating, nonparticipant roommates, and when a placement can end. Admission decisions must consider age, prior placements, delinquency, substance history, strengths, school and work history, and mental and medical needs. Wards under Welfare and Institutions Code Section 602 and youth taking psychotropic medicine must be considered and are not automatically excluded.
Lease help and pay during absences
Providers may co‑sign leases with nonminor dependents to help them rent housing. Counties may keep paying a provider for up to 14 days in a calendar month when a nonminor is temporarily absent, if the youth says they will return within 14 days or the provider has reason to believe they will. The Department issues guidance urging counties to continue payments during short absences, consistent with federal law. Contracts must treat a nonminor as having adult decision‑making power, unless a court limits it.
Lower caseloads and lead case managers
For minors, programs keep at most one case manager for every 12 participants. This rule has been in effect since January 1, 2013. For nonminors, programs keep an average of one case manager per 12 participants. Each nonminor must have a designated lead case manager.
Participant-led, gender-inclusive rooming rules
Participants choose, with the provider, who shares bedrooms, bathrooms, and units. Sharing is allowed regardless of gender identity. Minors and nonminors may share with other participants, their children, or approved nonparticipant roommates. Any adult roommate who is not a participant must pass a criminal record clearance or get an exemption. Providers must have a process to review living with a nonparticipant; counties may join that review.
Two program types and housing options
Providers can run two programs: one for minors and one for nonminor dependents. Programs that serve both must keep separate rules for each group. Housing options include host families, staffed sites, and remote sites. Remote sites are only for nonminor dependents and need Department approval. Programs must offer supervised housing for foster youth age 16 or older.
Job training links for foster youth
Programs must link participants to the local Workforce Investment Act job training services. This connects eligible youth to job training and placement help in their area.
County approval and state license for transitional housing
The Department of Social Services licenses transitional housing providers. Before a license, the provider must get county certification. The county states if the program serves ages 16–18, 18–21, or both. For nonminor programs, the county must need the program, and the provider must show it can run it and will accept AFDC‑FC‑eligible youth. The provider’s plan must fit the population, and the Department writes detailed rules.
Fair contracts and lease rules for youth
County contracts with providers cannot include unreasonable barriers to a qualified foster youth getting in or staying in housing. A participant cannot be the only person to sign a lease; the provider must also be on it. If a county keeps paying board-and-care costs for up to 14 days during an absence, the provider cannot remove the youth or give the spot to someone else during that time.
Stronger staff qualifications with flexible exceptions
Program managers for nonminor programs must have a master’s degree or approved equivalent and at least two years’ experience. Accepted fields include social work, counseling, psychology, child development, and similar areas. Case managers must have a bachelor’s in listed fields, or a bachelor’s plus two years’ related experience. Providers must keep proof of staff education and experience and may seek exceptions for equivalent backgrounds. The department can approve manager exceptions for bachelor’s‑degree holders and must decide exception requests within 30 days.
Fair admissions and staff training
The Department reviews admission rules to prevent discrimination under state law. Programs must use hiring rules that check staff age, substance history, and experience. Staff who work with youth must be trained on youth needs, supervision, counseling, and teaching independent living skills.
Safer units and host-family rules
Providers must certify housing units are safe, clean, and livable. For minors, host families must be certified by the provider. For nonminors, some host‑family types can be used without extra certification. Each provider’s operations plan must list core services and supports.
Staff hired before 2018 are exempt
If you were hired as a program manager or case manager before January 1, 2018, you do not have to meet the new education and experience rules. You can stay in your role under this law.
State funding limits and oversight rules
The law applies to local agencies only when the state provides yearly funding for any higher local costs. The state is not required to pay for new program costs above what it funds. The department does not have to review county contracts, and counties are not required to sign them. The department can issue all-county letters that act like rules until formal regulations are adopted.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Patrick Ahrens
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 9/8/2025
Item 40 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 68 • No: 4
Senate vote • 9/4/2025
Item 364 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 32 • No: 0
legislature vote • 8/29/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 5 • No: 2
legislature vote • 8/18/2025
Vote in CS61
Yes: 7 • No: 0
legislature vote • 7/7/2025
Vote in CS74
Yes: 4 • No: 0
House vote • 6/2/2025
Item 274 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 78 • No: 1
legislature vote • 5/23/2025
Vote in CX25
Yes: 14 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/8/2025
Vote in CX11
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 187, Statutes of 2025.
10/1/2025SenateApproved by the Governor.
10/1/2025legislatureEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.
9/15/2025legislatureSenate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 68. Noes 4. Page 3036.).
9/8/2025HouseIn Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
9/4/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 32. Noes 0. Page 2507.).
9/4/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
9/2/2025SenateRead second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
8/29/2025SenateFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
8/29/2025SenateIn committee: Referred to suspense file.
8/18/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (July 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7/8/2025SenateFrom committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.
6/17/2025SenateReferred to Com. on HUMAN S.
6/11/2025SenateIn Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
6/3/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 1. Page 1886.)
6/2/2025HouseRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
5/27/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).
5/23/2025HouseIn committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
4/23/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4/9/2025HouseRe-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
3/11/2025HouseFrom committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
3/10/2025HouseReferred to Com. on HUM. S.
3/10/2025HouseRead first time.
2/24/2025HouseFrom printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
2/22/2025HouseIntroduced. To print.
2/21/2025House
Bill Text
Chaptered
10/1/2025
Enrolled
9/10/2025
Amended Senate
8/29/2025
Amended Senate
6/17/2025
Amended Assembly
3/10/2025
Introduced
2/21/2025