GeorgiaHB 2562025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Social services; foster parents bill of rights; revise provisions

Sponsored By: Rob Clifton (Republican), Clint Crowe (Republican), Chuck Efstration (Republican), Joseph Gullett (Republican), Matt Hatchett (Republican), Marcus Wiedower (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Judiciary JuvenileChildren and FamiliesGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

More rights for Georgia foster caregivers

Georgia's Foster Placements Bill of Rights covers foster parents, relative caregivers, and fictive kin caring for children in state child-welfare custody. Caregivers have rights to respectful treatment, protection from discrimination, training, and timely information about duties and policy changes. They can review a child's history before placement, get a written case plan, and take part in care and visitation planning. They receive advance written notice of hearings about case plans or permanent placements and notice of plan changes as allowed by law. They can use the reasonable and prudent parent standard to decide about children's activities within legal and policy limits. They can refuse a placement or request a child's removal without reprisal and seek fostering information from independent sources. Where appropriate, former caregivers receive placement preference when a child returns to foster care. After 12 months in their home, caregivers should be considered first choice for adoption or permanent foster care, where appropriate. Caregivers also have rights to timely reimbursement under their agreements and notice of eligible costs.

Stronger complaint protections for foster caregivers

Foster caregivers can choose a volunteer advocate approved by Georgia's Office of the Child Advocate for home investigations. They can also request the advocate at department meetings they attend; communications in that role are confidential. Investigations must be fair, timely, and impartial, protect due process, and explain corrective actions or policy violations. Caregivers are protected from retaliation or discrimination for complaints filed with the Division of Family and Children Services. They can seek independent legal advice, but the law does not provide state-paid lawyers. By July 1, 2026, the department must publish grievance procedures, including mediation and an administrative process, for directly approved and placed caregivers. These procedures must appear in department policy manuals and the Foster Parent Handbook. By that date, the department must also develop grievance procedures for provider foster parents, consulting provider associations and foster-parent advocacy groups. Filing a grievance is no longer specified as the exclusive administrative remedy. The department must enforce these rights through policies and provider contracts, require providers to consider them, and give contractors needed information promptly.

Foster caregivers gain child record access

Foster caregivers can request information that does not identify people from placement or child-protection records for children in state care or custody. Records can include abuse reports, health evaluations, school records, and care plans, within legal limits. The agency must respond within 14 days after receiving a written request. Caregivers can share permitted information with an enlisted certified volunteer advocate. Outside documents that cannot legally be shared again remain excluded, and existing penalties for improper access or use still apply.

Fuller court records for juvenile cases

Georgia juvenile courts must record every spoken word in proceedings covered by the state's juvenile code. Each party can obtain the full record without a separate court order. The Department of Human Services has the same access when the court allows it to participate. Courts must explain parties' rights at their first appearance, including presenting evidence, questioning witnesses, reviewing relevant files, and appealing. Courts can exclude a child from parts of a hearing in the child's best interest, but cannot exclude that child's lawyer. Hearings follow evidence rules and use no jury unless another law provides one. Judges can preside anywhere within their judicial circuit, and record access remains subject to legal confidentiality limits.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Matt Brass
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 382 • No: 0

House vote • 4/2/2026

Agree to Senate Substitute

Yes: 171 • No: 0 • Other: 6

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 47 • No: 0 • Other: 2

House vote • 2/17/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 164 • No: 0 • Other: 8

Actions Timeline

House Date Signed by Governor
5/11/2026House
Act 475
5/11/2026
Effective Date
5/11/2026
House Sent to Governor
4/10/2026House
House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub
4/2/2026House
Senate Third Read
3/31/2026Senate
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
3/31/2026Senate
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
3/25/2026Senate
Senate Read Second Time
3/25/2026Senate
Senate Read and Referred
2/18/2026Senate
House Third Readers
2/17/2026House
House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
2/17/2026House
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
2/10/2026House
House Second Readers
2/6/2025House
House First Readers
2/5/2025House
House Hopper
2/4/2025House

Bill Text

HB 256/AP* (v8)
PDF

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