A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
H.R. 10865, known as the Samier Amer Foster Care Improvement Act of 2026, requires States to follow specific procedures when placing a child removed from their parents. Within 90 days of a placement decision, the State must provide notice and reasons for the decision to parents, interested relatives, guardians, attorneys, the child if able, and the prosecutor. The bill mandates that States establish procedures allowing people who receive the notice to request written documentation of the reasons within 5 days. It also allows the child's attorney to petition the court to review the placement decision. Finally, the court must start this review within 7 days and conduct it on the record.
Yes
- Scored +6
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill establishes procedures for written documentation of placement decisions and court review of those decisions, enhancing due process for children and families.
- Scored +6
Would children be better off under this?
The bill provides mechanisms for judicial review and attorney representation regarding foster care placement decisions, benefiting the welfare of removed children.
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires states to provide notice and reasons for child placement decisions to families and interested parties, improving transparency in the foster care system.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Informing Families and Interested Parties: Section 2(a) requires States to provide notice of a placement decision and the reasons for it within 90 days to parents, interested relatives, guardians, attorneys, the child, and the prosecutor. This keeps everyone informed about what is happening with the child.
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Right to Request Documentation: Section 2(a) allows a person receiving the notice to request written documentation of the reasons for the placement decision within 5 days. This provides clear accountability and understanding of why the State made its choice.
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Judicial Review of Placements: Section 2(a) allows the child's attorney to petition the court to review the placement decision, and requires the court to start this review within 7 days on the record. This ensures that a judge quickly checks the fairness and correctness of the placement.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Strict Timelines for Requests: Section 2(a) requires individuals to request written documentation of the reasons for a placement decision within 5 days of receiving the notice. This very short window could cause people to miss their chance to get information if they act too slowly.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill establishes procedures for written documentation of placement decisions and court review of those decisions, enhancing due process for children and families.Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires states to provide notice and reasons for child placement decisions to families and interested parties, improving transparency in the foster care system.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill provides mechanisms for judicial review and attorney representation regarding foster care placement decisions, benefiting the welfare of removed children.
- 10/22/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Introduced in House