Bill · S. 4797· Senate(119-S-4797)
Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act
- Introduced
- 6/16/2026
- Last activity
- 6/16/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- John Cornyn
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act requires States to include legal issues affecting youth in their case planning. It allows States to use funds from the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood for legal counseling access. States must certify that case planning considers legal issues regarding housing, education, employment, and family connections. This includes addressing state court records and matters of custody and permanency.
Yes· 3 of 14
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+9
Specifically targets foster youth transitioning to adulthood by providing legal counseling and removing barriers.
Would children be better off under this?+8
Provides significantly better case planning and legal support for children in foster care.
Does this make housing cost less?+7
The bill requires states to consider legal issues affecting housing for foster youth in their case planning.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Access to Legal Help: By adding "legal counseling access" to subsection (a)(4) of section 477 of the Social Security Act, youth may have more support through the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program.
-
Comprehensive Case Planning: Under section 2, subsection (b)(3)(L), States must ensure case planning considers legal issues that impact housing, education, employment, and family connections.
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Resolution of Legal Barriers: Section 2, subsection (b)(3)(L) specifically focuses on addressing state court records, legal recognition of family relationships, and custody and permanency matters for current and former foster youth.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Young Adults+9Good For Children+8Good For Low Income Households+6Good For Students+5Good For African Americans+4Good For Hispanic Americans+4Good For Native Americans+4Good For Asian Americans+3Good For White Americans+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Affordable Housing+7Reduces Homelessness+6Improves Poverty Reduction+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+6Increases Federal Power+2
- 6/16/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island