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Committee backs bill to extend foster care support to age 23
Summary
The House Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 245 to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation after testimony from sponsors, Department of Health and Welfare staff and two former foster youth. Sponsors say the change aligns with federal guidance and aims to improve outcomes for young adults aging out of care.
House Bill 245, which would extend access to foster care support from age 21 to 23, was sent to the House floor with a due‑pass recommendation after the House Health and Welfare Committee heard sponsor remarks, agency estimates and testimony from two former foster youth.
Supporters said the extra two years of foster care can improve education and employment outcomes for young people who lack family support. "Kids in foster care, they got a rough go," Representative Jason Monks, R. 22, told the committee, saying the measure gives youth more time to finish college or trade training. Representative Alana Rubel, R. 18, said the program is small in scale — she and sponsors estimate about 40 participants — and cited research she said shows extended care reduces homelessness, unintended pregnancy and arrests while improving postsecondary retention.
The bill drew testimony from state officials and people with lived experience. Adam Jones of the Department of Health and Welfare told the committee the department estimated at most 40 participants would enroll if every eligible person accepted the offer, and that nationwide foster care populations have trended down in recent years. Sarah Betweiser, who identified herself as a former foster youth and president of the board of Family Advocates, testified in support and described nonprofit services for youth. Ivy Smith, who said she aged out of Idaho's foster system in 2016 and later worked on policy, told the committee she wrote an original policy proposal and urged members to vote for the bill.
Committee members asked about likely budget impacts if participation were higher than estimated. Representative Rubel said department staff prepared the numbers and that a larger intake would increase costs; the department witness agreed but said the 40‑person figure assumes not all eligible youth will enroll. Representative Dan Kaler registered opposition on fiscal grounds, calling the bill "another addition" to state spending; Representative Dore Healy moved the bill to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation.
When the committee voted, the chair announced the motion passed and the bill was sent to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation.
The bill's sponsors and witnesses framed the measure as aligning with federal guidance that supports extending foster care through age 23 and as a targeted program expected to serve a relatively small number of youth.
