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HB 1191

Fostering Care in NC Act 2026.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Eric Ager and 27 co-sponsors

The bill aims to reform North Carolina foster care by strengthening safety, permanency planning, and support for children, families, and caregivers through licensing, funding, and

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · HB 1191

HB 1191 | North Carolina, 2025 Session
Title: Fostering Care in NC Act 2026

Overview
HB 1191 is a bill introduced in the 2025-2026 North Carolina legislative session, sponsored (as co-sponsors) by Vernetta Alston, Donnie Loftis, Tim Reeder, and Allen Chesser. The action history shows the bill was filed on April 30, 2026. The bill’s title, “Fostering Care in NC Act 2026,” suggests a focus on foster care policy and related supports within the state.

Purpose and Intent
- The bill appears designed to address foster care in North Carolina, with the aim of improving care, safety, stability, and support for children in foster care and possibly the families and caregivers involved.
- The exact statutory changes and policy levers are not provided in the summary text available, but the title indicates a comprehensive act intended to enact reforms or enhancements to foster care systems, processes, or funding.

Key Provisions and Changes (Expected Areas Based on Title)
Note: The following reflects typical components of a “Fostering Care” or foster-care-focused statute. The precise text of HB 1191 would specify the exact provisions. If you have access to the bill’s language, please share for a detailed line-by-line summary.

  • Definitions and Scope

    • Clarification of terms related to foster care, kinship care, relative caregiving, and licensing.
    • Scope of applicability to state agencies, local social services departments, and foster care providers.

  • Placement and Permanency

    • Standards for safe placement of children in foster homes or facilities.
    • Timelines or processes for permanency planning (reunification, guardianship, adoption).

  • Licensing and Oversight

    • Requirements for foster family licensure, background checks, training, and ongoing supervision.
    • Enhanced oversight mechanisms for providers and facilities, including compliance reporting.

  • Support for Foster Families

    • Financial supports, stipends, or waivers for foster families, kinship caregivers, or respite care.
    • Training, mental health supports, and access to services for foster children and caregivers.

  • Health and Education

    • Provisions ensuring access to medical, mental health, and educational services for children in care.
    • Coordination with schools and healthcare providers, including records transfer and advocacy.

  • Safety, Rights, and Accountability

    • Safeguards to protect the rights of foster youth, including consent, privacy, and participation in decisions affecting their lives.
    • Accountability mechanisms for agencies and caregivers, including reporting requirements for adverse events.

  • Funding and Implementation

    • Budgetary authorizations or appropriations tied to foster care programs.
    • Implementation timelines, phased rollouts, and state agency responsibilities.

  • Data and Reporting

    • Data collection on foster placements, outcomes, and service utilization.
    • Annual or periodic reporting to the General Assembly and relevant oversight bodies.

Who Would Be Affected
- Children in foster care and their families/guardians.
- Licensed foster families, kinship caregivers, and respite providers.
- State and local social services departments, child welfare agencies, and licensing boards.
- Healthcare providers, schools, and mental health professionals serving foster youth.
- Administrative and budgetary offices within the state government responsible for child welfare funding and policy oversight.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Status: Filed on April 30, 2026.
- As a bill in the NC General Assembly, it would follow standard committee referrals (e.g., Appropriations, Health, Family Policy, etc.), potential amendments, and hearings before advancing to votes in the House and Senate.
- Timelines for enactment would depend on committee action, floor votes, and potential conference committee processes if differences arise between chamber versions.
- If enacted, the act would become effective on a specified date or multiple phased effective dates as stated in the bill.

Notes and Next Steps
- The current summary lacks detailed text of the bill’s provisions. For a precise, section-by-section summary, please provide the bill language or link to the official bill file.
- If available, include fiscal notes, effective dates, and any pilot programs or sunset provisions to assess long-term impact and fiscal sustainability.
- A deeper dive would enable explicit bullet points on changes to licensing thresholds, caregiver stipends, permanency timelines, and data-collection requirements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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