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S. 4556119th CongressIn committeeLatest action May 18, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
S 4556 requires states to give foster youth key documents and health records free, starting at 14, and again when they leave care.
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S 4556 changes federal rules for how states handle foster care cases by requiring that health and education records be shared directly with each child at no cost beginning at age 14, and again upon leaving care. Foster youth age 14 and older must also receive a free annual credit report, birth certificate, Social Security card, and state ID or driver's license while still in care. Transition planning documents must be updated to include information on Medicaid enrollment, medical decision-making authorization, and health care proxy setup.
The bill directly affects the roughly 400,000 children currently in the U.S. foster care system, with the strongest focus on teenagers age 14 and older, especially those who age out at 18. State child welfare agencies are also affected, as they must update procedures to meet the new requirements.
States that lack existing laws to meet these requirements would need to pass their own legislation, and the bill gives those states extra time to comply. Youth must be informed about available support services not just once, but at every caseworker meeting and every court hearing they attend.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a Senate committee is reviewing it. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.