SF 1786 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relative foster care licensing, training, and background study requirements modifications provision, Minnesota Family Investment program modifications provision, and appropriation

This bill modifies Minnesota's foster care rules for relatives caring for children. It expands the definition of "related" to include important friends with significant relationships to the child or family. Relatives seeking foster care must now complete infant safety training within 30 days of licensure (previously only required for non-relatives), and county agencies must provide information about licensing options through private agencies. The bill also updates background check requirements for household members and ensures caregivers receive training on preventing sudden infant death and abusive head trauma.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Last action Mar 27, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 5 edits · Mar 10, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates background study requirements for relative foster care providers to enhance child safety. It raises the minimum age for household members requiring background checks from 13 to 18, expands the list of disqualifying criminal offenses, and increases the waiting period for disqualification based on parental rights termination from five to seven years. Additionally, it removes a specific five-year waiting period for disqualification related to aiding and abetting certain offenses.

Scope change

The bill applies specifically to individuals providing child foster care in a relative foster family setting, tightening eligibility and background study rules for these caregivers.

REQUIREMENT

Raised the minimum age for household members requiring background checks from 13 to 18 years old for relative foster care settings.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the list of felony-level criminal convictions that permanently disqualify a relative from providing foster care.

Increased the waiting period before a relative can be eligible for foster care after a parental rights termination from five years to seven years.

Removed the five-year waiting period for disqualification if a relative aided, abetted, or conspired in certain offenses, making them permanently ineligible.

TIMELINE

Changed the goal for licensing guidelines from achieving licensure within one month to achieving licensure as quickly as possible.

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Health and Human Services

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Judiciary and Public Safety

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Committee

Referred to Health and Human Services

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors