UtahH.B. 3022025 General SessionHouseWALLET

Minors in State Custody Amendments

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Benefit checks for kids entering custody

Beginning July 1, 2025, Utah’s health and human services department must check federal benefit eligibility within 60 days of a minor entering custody. It must apply when the minor qualifies or may qualify, and reassess after major changes that could affect eligibility. The department must also apply to manage benefit payments as representative payee and may accept that role. When appointed, it must review each year whether someone else should manage payments in the minor’s best interest. Applications do not guarantee benefit approval.

Protected benefit accounts for kids in custody

Beginning July 1, 2025, Utah must keep a separate account for each minor whose federal benefits it receives or manages. It must use an ABLE account when the minor qualifies, unless good cause supports another account; otherwise, it must choose an account that best preserves benefits. The department must manage funds in the minor’s best interest and follow benefit-program asset limits. Required rules cover accounting, saving and paying out funds, reasons for using non-ABLE accounts, protection against misuse or loss, and federal compliance. By September 1 each year, Utah must report to the legislative health committee on the prior fiscal year’s beneficiary count, benefit types, management policies, and total benefits received and spent.

Kids’ benefits support care and savings

Beginning July 1, 2025, Utah may spend up to 75% of deposited federal benefits on a minor’s maintenance costs. Benefit-source rules control; where they allow this arrangement, Utah must save or invest the rest. Annual statements of money received and spent must go to the minor and any guardian ad litem. When custody ends, Utah must transfer the account as benefit rules require, seeking direct transfer to the minor or parent or guardian. Other permitted recipients include a successor payee, and Utah must offer money-management training to the minor or successor payee at transfer.

Utah must seek Medicaid protections for kids

Beginning July 1, 2025, Utah must apply for a Medicaid waiver or state plan amendment by January 1, 2026. This covers minors in state custody receiving federal benefits who cannot use ABLE or another account excluded from Medicaid asset calculations. Utah must seek either to exclude those benefits from asset calculations or raise asset limits enough to preserve Medicaid eligibility. The law requires an application, not federal approval, and does not itself change Medicaid eligibility.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Doug Fiefia
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Todd Weiler
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 201 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/5/2025

Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension

Yes: 25 • No: 0

House vote • 3/5/2025

House/ concurs with Senate amendment

Yes: 73 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/5/2025

Senate/ substituted

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/20/2025

Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation

Yes: 3 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/20/2025

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

Yes: 4 • No: 0

House vote • 2/14/2025

House/ passed 3rd reading

Yes: 72 • No: 0

House vote • 2/5/2025

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

Yes: 12 • No: 0