Subcommittee approves extension of foster care eligibility to under-23s and makes liaison program permanent

House Bill 103 was approved by the Children and Family Affairs subcommittee on Feb. 11, 2025, by a 7-0 roll call and will be sent to the full judiciary committee. Chair Lady Littleton presented the measure as expanding eligibility and removing certain fees for young people receiving extension of foster care services.

"This legislation extends the extension of foster care program to include more young adults in the program and it changes certain requirements for young adults to receive extension of foster care services," the chair said. The provisions described on the record: increase the eligibility age from under 21 to under 23; permit youth who achieved permanency between ages 16 and 18 to be eligible for the extension-of-foster-care program; remove fees related to issuance of driver’s licenses, permits or photo identification for youth in the extension program or juvenile-justice programs; and reestablish and make permanent the foster care youth outreach liaison program.

Representative Towns spoke in favor on the record, calling the change "long overdue" and saying it would give young people additional time to "find their way and find their footing." No amendments or outside testimony were recorded in the subcommittee meeting.

The committee clerk called seven ayes during the roll and the chair directed the bill be transmitted to the judiciary committee for further consideration.