Lawmakers Behind Foster Care Laws
Ranked by verified enacted laws in this tracker—not career totals. Ties share a rank.
Only officially verified authors and primary sponsors count.
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Mention the law, not a youth’s personal details.
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Authors verified for 31 of 128 enacted records; remaining credits under review.
Rank 1 · California
Patrick Ahrens
Assemblymember at the time of passage
5enacted laws
Laws and Official Sources
AB 243 — Easier Financial Aid as an Independent Student (New Law AB 243)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
AB 2764 — Equal Extended Foster Care Rules Statewide (New Law AB 2764)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
AB 2765 — CalFresh Protections for Foster and Former Foster Youth (New Law AB 2765)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
AB 2766 — College Housing Rights for Current and Former Foster Youth (New Law AB 2766)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
AB 2768 — College Fee Deferment for Foster Youth (New Law AB 2768)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 2 · California
Jim Beall
Legislator at the time of passage
3enacted laws
Historical official profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
SB 233 — Caregivers Can Access Your School Records
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
AB 12 — Stay in Foster Care Until 21 (AB 12)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
AB 194 — Priority Registration for College Classes
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 2 · California
Mark Stone
Assemblymember at the time of passage
3enacted laws
Official profile links are still being checked.
Laws and Official Sources
AB 216 — Graduation Exemption Expanded for Foster Youth
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
AB 403 — Continuum of Care Reform: Family-Based Placements First
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
AB 592 — Proof You Were in Foster Care
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 4 · Colorado
Lindsey Daugherty
Legislator at the time of passage
2enacted laws
Colorado General Assembly profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
HB 26-1347 — SSI Screening and Benefit Protections for Foster Youth (New Law HB 26-1347)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
House Bill 24-1017 — Bill of Rights for Youth in Foster Care
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 4 · California
Mike Gipson
Legislator at the time of passage
2enacted laws
Laws and Official Sources
AB 2524 — Work Permits Through Probation or Child Welfare (AB 2524)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
AB 1228 — Priority Campus Housing During Breaks
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 4 · Colorado
Rachel Zenzinger
Legislator at the time of passage
2enacted laws
Historical legislative profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
Senate Bill 22-008 — Higher Education Support for Foster Youth (FosterEd)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
House Bill 24-1017 — Bill of Rights for Youth in Foster Care
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Aisha Wahab
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Official profile links are still being checked.
Laws and Official Sources
SB 1345 — Your Belongings Move With Dignity (New Law SB 1345)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Anthony Adams
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Official profile links are still being checked.
Laws and Official Sources
AB 167 — Skip Extra Local Graduation Requirements
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · Colorado
Barbara McLachlan
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Historical legislative profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
Senate Bill 22-008 — Higher Education Support for Foster Youth (FosterEd)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Ben Allen
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Laws and Official Sources
SB 577 — Sexual Abuse Prevention in Foster Care and Juvenile Facilities (SB 577)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Caroline Menjivar
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
California State Senate District 20 official websiteLinks reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
SB 1051 — Faster Child Care for Foster Children (New Law SB 1051)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · Colorado
Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Colorado General Assembly profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
House Bill 24-1017 — Bill of Rights for Youth in Foster Care
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Darrell Steinberg
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Laws and Official Sources
AB 490 — Stay in Your School After a Foster Placement Move
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · Missouri
David Sater
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Historical official profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
HCS Senate Bill 205 — College or Military Visit Before Leaving Foster Care
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Diane Dixon
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
California State Assembly member profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
AB 349 — Higher Payments for Parenting Foster Youth (New Law AB 349)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Holly Mitchell
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Official county websiteNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
SB 612 — Modernized Transitional Housing Rules
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · Colorado
Hugh McKean
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
In memoriam — historical legislative profile.
Colorado General Assembly profileLinks reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
Senate Bill 22-008 — Higher Education Support for Foster Youth (FosterEd)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · Florida
Ileana Garcia
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Florida Senate profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
SB 584 — Campus Housing Priority and Housing Vouchers After Foster Care (New Law SB 584)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Isaac Bryan
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Laws and Official Sources
AB 2162 — Housing Help Extended to Age 28 (New Law AB 2162)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · Colorado
Jennifer Parenti
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Historical legislative profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
House Bill 24-1017 — Bill of Rights for Youth in Foster Care
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
John Laird
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Laws and Official Sources
SB 577 — Sexual Abuse Prevention in Foster Care and Juvenile Facilities (SB 577)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · Missouri
Jolie Justus
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Historical official profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
Senate Bill 208 — Right to Return to Foster Care Up to Age 21
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Karen Bass
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Laws and Official Sources
AB 12 — Stay in Foster Care Until 21 (AB 12)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · Colorado
Kevin Priola
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Historical legislative profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
Senate Bill 22-008 — Higher Education Support for Foster Youth (FosterEd)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · Colorado
Kyle Brown
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Colorado General Assembly profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
HB 26-1347 — SSI Screening and Benefit Protections for Foster Youth (New Law HB 26-1347)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · Colorado
Lindsay Gilchrist
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Colorado General Assembly profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
HB 26-1347 — SSI Screening and Benefit Protections for Foster Youth (New Law HB 26-1347)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Lisa Calderon
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Laws and Official Sources
AB 670 — Protection for Parenting Foster Youth
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · Colorado
Matt Ball
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Colorado General Assembly profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
HB 26-1347 — SSI Screening and Benefit Protections for Foster Youth (New Law HB 26-1347)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Nancy Skinner
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Historical official profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
SB 354 — Easier Placement with Relatives
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Norma Torres
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Laws and Official Sources
SB 1252 — More Time in Transitional Housing
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Sade Elhawary
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Laws and Official Sources
AB 896 — Your Right to Help Plan Placement Moves (New Law AB 896)
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Rank 7 · California
Toni Atkins
Legislator at the time of passage
1enacted law
Historical official profileNo official social links confirmed. Links reviewed 2026-10-30.
Laws and Official Sources
AB 1228 — Priority Campus Housing During Breaks
Official author and law recordCredit reviewed 2026-10-30
Enacted does not always mean already in effect. Check the dates and official records in the law tracker. General information, not legal advice.