States would face new data rules to recruit foster, adoptive families
Passed one chamberS. 162Latest action
Sponsor: Chuck Grassley · Senator · IA
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2025
119th Congress
Topics: Family & community
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
States must plan, track, and report data on recruiting foster and adoptive families starting October 2026.
35-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
The bill requires every state to create a "family partnership plan" identifying relatives as caregivers, building per-child recruitment plans, involving youth, and using data to track progress. States must also form foster family advisory boards and regularly report data on licensed families, unused families, group home placements, and why placements fail or families stop fostering, including racial and ethnic recruitment gaps.
Who does it affect?
This affects state child welfare agencies, foster and adoptive families, birth and kinship families, and children in foster care.
Why does it matter?
States gain new planning, data-collection, and reporting obligations, with some timing flexibility if state legislation is needed to comply.
AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.
Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedJan 21, 2025
- Senate committee
- Senate vote
- HouseYou are here · Jun 15, 2026
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the Senate, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Held at the desk.