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ColoradoHB25-12712025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Federal Benefits for Youth in Foster Care

Sponsored By: Dafna Michaelson Jenet (Democratic), Kyle Brown (Democratic), Lindsay Gilchrist (Democratic), Lindsey Daugherty (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Human Services

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More benefit help for foster youth

By July 1, 2027, counties must implement survivor benefit checks for foster children with a deceased parent. They must check within 90 days of taking custody or authority, consult interested parties as needed, and review initial ineligibility annually. These benefits come through Social Security, veterans benefits, or railroad retirement; counties must apply when children may qualify. Counties must give noncertified kinship caregivers application information and consult interested parties about benefit denials, reductions, or terminations, appealing when grounds exist. With participating transition-aged youths’ agreement, counties must also help them access benefits, manage survivor funds, and get related financial training.

Protected survivor savings for foster youth

Starting July 1, 2027, counties managing foster youths’ survivor benefits cannot use that money to pay or reimburse care costs. They must save the benefits, interest, and earnings for each child in accounts that follow federal and state resource limits. Shared accounts require separate records for each child. Counties must provide an annual accounting showing benefits collected, balances, and other assets they control; account duties do not apply when counties are not managing benefits. When children leave foster care, counties must release their saved funds according to the funding source’s rules and applicable law.

More say over foster youths’ benefits

Before applying to manage survivor benefits, counties must consult interested parties about whether someone else is a better choice. Interested parties include the youth, caregivers, lawyers, and parents whose rights or access have not been removed or restricted. Counties must tell preferred candidates how to apply and review their own role each year if they manage benefits. Counties must give timely, age-appropriate notices about applications, benefit and appeal decisions, manager selection, and special accounts or trusts. Notices must explain rights to provide selection information and challenge the choice before federal agencies, unless a court order prevents notice.

State support for foster benefit protections

The act takes effect immediately, with county implementation required by July 1, 2027. Colorado’s Department of Human Services must consult stakeholders and adopt implementing rules and guidance by January 1, 2027. These cover benefit checks, applications, appeals, manager selection, accounting, notices, caregiver information, and youths’ rights to receive saved funds. The department must also help counties save and manage benefits in each child’s best interests. For fiscal year 2025-26, the law provides $109,179 from the General Fund for child welfare implementation, assuming one additional full-time position.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Dafna Michaelson Jenet

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kyle Brown

    Democratic • House

  • Lindsay Gilchrist

    Democratic • House

  • Lindsey Daugherty

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Amy Paschal

    Democratic • House

  • Alex Valdez

    Democratic • House

  • Brandi Bradley

    Republican • House

  • Chad Clifford

    Democratic • House

  • Cecelia Espenoza

    Democratic • House

  • Eliza Hamrick

    Democratic • House

  • Emily Sirota

    Democratic • House

  • Elizabeth Velasco

    Democratic • House

  • Jennifer Bacon

    Democratic • House

  • Jamie Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Junie Joseph

    Democratic • House

  • Julie McCluskie

    Democratic • House

  • Jacque Phillips

    Democratic • House

  • Karen McCormick

    Democratic • House

  • Katie Stewart

    Democratic • House

  • Lorena Garcia

    Democratic • House

  • Lesley Smith

    Democratic • House

  • Monica Duran

    Democratic • House

  • Mandy Lindsay

    Democratic • House

  • Meghan Lukens

    Democratic • House

  • Matthew Martinez

    Democratic • House

  • Regina English

    Democratic • House

  • Rebecca Keltie

    Republican • House

  • Rep. R. Pugliese

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Ron Weinberg

    Republican • House

  • Rep. S. Bird

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Sheila Lieder

    Democratic • House

  • Steven Woodrow

    Democratic • House

  • Tisha Mauro

    Democratic • House

  • Tammy Story

    Democratic • House

  • William Lindstedt

    Democratic • Senate

  • Yara Zokaie

    Democratic • House

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sen. F. Winter

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Iman Jodeh

    Democratic • Senate

  • Judy Amabile

    Democratic • Senate

  • John Carson

    Republican • Senate

  • Lisa Cutter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Weissman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tony Exum

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 253 • No: 15

House vote • 5/7/2025

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 64 • No: 1

House vote • 5/7/2025

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 62 • No: 3

Senate vote • 5/6/2025

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 32 • No: 3

Senate vote • 5/2/2025

Refer House Bill 25-1271, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 5 • No: 2

Senate vote • 4/30/2025

Refer House Bill 25-1271, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2025

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 63 • No: 0

House vote • 4/22/2025

Refer House Bill 25-1271, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 8 • No: 3

House vote • 3/19/2025

Refer House Bill 25-1271, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 10 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    5/28/2025House

  2. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    5/14/2025House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    5/14/2025Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor

    5/14/2025House

  5. House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

    5/7/2025House

  6. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    5/6/2025Senate

  7. House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily

    5/6/2025House

  8. Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    5/5/2025Senate

  9. Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole

    5/2/2025Senate

  10. Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

    5/2/2025Senate

  11. Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations

    4/30/2025Senate

  12. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services

    4/25/2025Senate

  13. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/23/2025House

  14. House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

    4/22/2025House

  15. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

    4/22/2025House

  16. House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations

    3/19/2025House

  17. Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services

    2/18/2025House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

    PDF

  • Final Act

    PDF

  • House Appropriations Preamend

    PDF

  • House Health & Human Services Preamend

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Reengrossed

    PDF

  • Rerevised

    PDF

  • Revised

    PDF

  • Senate Appropriations Preamend

    PDF

  • Senate Health & Human Services Preamend

    PDF

  • Signed Act

    PDF

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