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MississippiHB 13872025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Kinship payments for foster children; revise who may be paid.

Sponsored By: Angela Cockerham (Independent)

Signed by Governor

Youth and Family AffairsJudiciary, Division A

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More family-like caregivers qualify for guardianship

Beginning July 1, 2025, Mississippi youth courts recognize more adults as “fictive kin,” meaning people with ongoing family-like ties. This includes relatives beyond the third degree, godparents, family friends, and other adults with strong family-like bonds. These adults gain access to durable legal relative guardianship, which requires a court order granting physical and legal custody. The guardian must be licensed as a foster or resource parent; the expanded definition does not guarantee guardianship.

More caregivers qualify for child payments

Beginning July 1, 2025, more caregivers qualify for monthly room-and-board payments for children placed by Mississippi’s child protection department. Eligible adults include relatives within the third degree and family-support adults, including distant relatives, godparents, and family friends with strong family-like bonds. Payments are capped at 100% of the foster-care board payment and depend on specific legislative funding and available money. The payment requirement does not cover placements with relatives exempt from foster-care training. The department can continue payments after giving up legal custody if the caregiver has followed foster-care training requirements.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Angela Cockerham

    Independent • House

Cosponsors

  • Otis Anthony

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 170 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

Passed

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 2/5/2025

Passed

Yes: 120 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor

    3/12/2025legislature

  2. Enrolled Bill Signed

    3/10/2025Senate

  3. Enrolled Bill Signed

    3/7/2025House

  4. Returned For Enrolling

    3/7/2025Senate

  5. Passed

    3/6/2025Senate

  6. Title Suff Do Pass

    3/4/2025Senate

  7. Referred To Judiciary, Division A

    2/17/2025Senate

  8. Transmitted To Senate

    2/6/2025House

  9. Passed

    2/5/2025House

  10. Title Suff Do Pass

    1/28/2025House

  11. Referred To Youth and Family Affairs

    1/20/2025House

Bill Text

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