PRIA Logo™
ColoradoHB26-13742026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Kinship Care Funding Provisions

Sponsored By: Emily Sirota (Democratic), Jeff Bridges (Democratic), Judy Amabile (Democratic), Rick Taggart (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Children & Domestic Matters

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

Foster-level payments for certified kin caregivers

Beginning July 1, 2026, certified kinship foster homes qualify for the same payment rates and supports as standard foster homes. The State Board of Human Services sets those rates through rules. Counties pay first, and the state reimburses 90% of certified kinship daily-rate spending, limited by available state funding. These rates now go through the state's year-end financial review and adjustment process. The law removes the designated Long-Term Works Reserve funding route and requires training, data collection, and reports.

Less guaranteed help for uncertified kin caregivers

Beginning July 1, 2026, Colorado counties no longer have a general duty to provide money and supports for non-certified kinship care. Assistance remains required under federal Social Security Act section 475 and Colorado sections 19-3-208 and 19-3-403(3.6)(c) and (9). By June 15, 2026, counties must notify every non-certified kinship foster home receiving monthly payments. The state must create a standard notice explaining when assistance ends. It must describe certification options, including provisional certification for eligible caregivers.

New limits on kinship court delays

Beginning July 1, 2026, courts face new limits on delaying decisions about a child's permanent home. Courts cannot delay planning just to preserve payments for certified or non-certified kinship homes, or to keep siblings placed together. A delay requires exceptional circumstances approved by the court. At permanency hearings, courts must decide whether the child should return home and assess efforts to secure a safe, stable permanent home.

Relatives get new foster certification guidance

Beginning July 1, 2026, counties must contact identified grandparents and kin within 30 days after a child's removal. Existing good-cause exceptions allow counties to skip or delay contact. Written notices explain placement options, joining the court case, background checks, supports, and court review of background-check placement denials. They also cover child care assistance, SNAP, child-only TANF, adoption assistance, and relative guardianship assistance. Guidance on provisional foster certification replaces the specified guidance on requesting exceptions to certification standards that pose no health or safety risk.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Emily Sirota

    Democratic • House

  • Jeff Bridges

    Democratic • Senate

  • Judy Amabile

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rick Taggart

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 203 • No: 31

Senate vote • 4/16/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 30 • No: 5

Senate vote • 4/14/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1374, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 7 • No: 0

House vote • 4/11/2026

Third reading: Amd (l.004)

Yes: 57 • No: 3

House vote • 4/11/2026

Third reading: Perm

Yes: 57 • No: 3

House vote • 4/11/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 43 • No: 18

House vote • 4/6/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1374 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 9 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    5/27/2026House

  2. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    5/22/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    5/22/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor

    5/22/2026House

  5. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/16/2026Senate

  6. Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

    4/15/2026Senate

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

    4/14/2026Senate

  8. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations

    4/13/2026Senate

  9. House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

    4/11/2026House

  10. House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    4/10/2026House

  11. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor

    4/9/2026House

  12. House Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    4/8/2026House

  13. House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

    4/6/2026House

  14. Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations

    4/2/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation