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Committee hears expansion to Fostering Success Act; sponsors seek higher tax-credit cap, broader eligibility
Summary
HB136 would expand Georgia’s Fostering Success Act tax-credit program: increase the annual cap from $20 million to $30 million, allow participation by entities that pay premium taxes, extend eligibility to age 25, and tighten administrative guardrails; witnesses described growing enrollment and asked for more funding and outreach.
House Human Services/Youth (committee hearing) — The committee heard House Bill 136, a revision to Georgia’s Fostering Success Act tax-credit program intended to extend assistance to youth aging out of foster care and expand the types of taxpayers who can use the credit.
Dr. Newton, a sponsor, said the bill would expand the program in several ways: increase the annual cap on tax credits from $20 million to $30 million, allow insurance companies that pay premium taxes to use the credit mechanism, extend eligibility to former foster youth up to age 25 and clarify allowable services, and set administrative guardrails to ensure at least 80 percent of donated funds go directly to services for youth. Dr. Newton described mentorship support, housing, transportation and educational help as core services the program funds.
Nut graf: Supporters framed the change as targeted help for a high-risk population. Heidi Carr, executive director of Fostering Success Act, Inc., said the program has been operating since early 2023 and reported enrollment growth: 133 youth in postsecondary programs in the fall, rising to 187 in spring for that organization. Carr described cases where small expenses — for example, $500 for welding equipment — enabled a youth to enroll in technical training and succeed.
Committee members pressed on eligibility language. Dr. Newton and witnesses discussed a drafting ambiguity recorded in the bill that referenced ages “6 through 25” while also specifying a requirement of at least six months in foster care after reaching age 14; the sponsor acknowledged the provision needed clearer wording and said he would refine the language to reflect the program’s intention to cover youth who were in foster care through adolescence and to support them up to age 25.
The bill would also tighten program administration: a 20 percent maximum on administrative costs and certification and compliance steps for qualified organizations. Dr. Newton said Fostering Success Act, Inc. distributed roughly $4 million in 2024 and expects demand and distributions to increase if the cap rises. Heidi Carr described outreach partnerships with the University System of Georgia Foundation, DFCS and other programs to identify and enroll youth.
Ending: The committee did not vote on HB136. Sponsors asked for follow-up work to fix drafting ambiguities, supply fuller data on program capacity and need, and return to the committee for a subsequent hearing.
