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H.R. 8997119th CongressIn committeeLatest action May 21, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 8997 requires states to provide free attorneys to parents and children in all abuse, neglect, and foster care cases or lose federal funds.
65-second read · 5 questions answered below
HR 8997 would require states to guarantee free legal representation for both children and parents in court cases involving child abuse, neglect, foster care, adoption, guardianship, and termination of parental rights. The bill requires a genuine attorney-client relationship, not merely a lawyer present in name only. States must comply starting October 1, 2026, with extra time granted if state legislation is needed to implement the requirement.
The bill affects parents at risk of losing custody, children who have been abused or neglected, and state governments that would need to build or expand legal aid systems. Family law attorneys and court systems would also be affected as demand for representation in these cases could increase significantly.
Many states currently do not guarantee lawyers for parents in child welfare cases, even when outcomes such as loss of custody or termination of parental rights are at stake. The Government Accountability Office would report to Congress every two years on how well states are carrying out the requirement.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.