Healthcare (Children)

This bill expands medical assistance coverage to individuals who were in foster care and remain in the system past age 18, extending eligibility up to age 26 for those who were enrolled in Medicaid while in care. It modifies the definition of "child in foster care" to include youth for whom permanent custody is transferred to relatives after age ten, and requires social services agencies to notify children in foster care six months before their 18th birthday about extended care options. The legislation also updates eligibility requirements for continuing in foster care past 18, allowing youth to remain in the system until age 21 if they are completing education, participating in employment programs, working at least 80 hours monthly, or have a medical condition preventing them from meeting other criteria. Additionally, the bill mandates that independent living plans be updated for youth in foster care immediately before their 18th birthday and allows individuals who left foster care before age 18 to reenter the system with support services up to age 21.

HF 3603 directs Minnesota's Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families to request a federal waiver by January 1, 2027, to prohibit SNAP (food stamp) benefits from purchasing candy, energy drinks, and soda. The bill defines "candy" as sugar-based products like chocolate bars, "energy drinks" as caffeinated beverages marketed for energy (excluding coffee/tea), and "soda" as carbonated sugary drinks (excluding low-sugar options). If approved, this waiver would restrict SNAP recipients in Minnesota from using benefits for these specific items. The bill does not change current SNAP rules but seeks federal permission for this targeted restriction.

HF 3002 modifies Minnesota's foster care benefit eligibility rules to extend support after age 18. It specifically adds youth to the eligibility pool if they had permanent legal and physical custody transferred to a relative after turning 10, rather than requiring them to be in foster care at age 18. The bill amends statutes (256B.055, 260C.212, 260C.451, 260C.452) to include these individuals for continued medical assistance and support services until age 26. This change directly affects young adults who transitioned to relative care after age 10 but were not previously covered under the existing foster care benefit rules.

SF 3154 establishes a "Foster Youth Bill of Rights" in Minnesota, directly affecting youth in foster care under 18 (or up to 21 in extended care). It codifies specific rights, including the right to receive care at least as good as non-foster peers, protection from abuse (including verbal harassment and hate speech), clean living spaces free from pests, and culturally appropriate services. The bill prohibits excessive medication, physical discipline, group punishment, and neglect of basic needs like medical diets or belongings. It also clarifies that these rights complement existing laws like the Indian Child Welfare Act, without replacing other protections.

HF 1908 amends Minnesota's child custody laws to remove barriers that previously limited courts' jurisdiction when a child is in the state for gender-affirming care. The bill adds that a child's presence in Minnesota for gender-affirming health care meets the "significant connection" requirement for initial custody jurisdiction under statute 518D.201, and it allows temporary emergency custody orders if a child cannot access such care (statute 518D.204). These changes directly affect children and families navigating custody cases when traveling to Minnesota for gender-affirming medical treatment. The bill repeals prior restrictive language (including sections 543.23 and 260.925) that had limited these protections.