CASCW at the Capitol - April 2025 | Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare

CASCW at the Capitol featuring Child welfare policy updates

As the legislature works to meet today’s deadline to act on bills approved by the other chamber, Governor Tim Walz told state agencies to make plans in the case that federal funding for their programming will be cut. The Department of Human Services (DHS) is expected to be most impacted, and Democratic lawmakers have warned that the legislature may be forced to reconvene in the summer or fall if federal funds are slashed after the state budget is approved. The new developments come after House leaders already agreed to reduce spending by more than $1 billion in 2026-27.

CACSW takes a deeper dive into these and other state and national legislative developments below. To stay abreast of child welfare legislation, check out our regularly updated Bill Tracker. (Note: the inclusion of bills does not indicate a position for or against a particular policy.)

If you don’t see a news item or bill listed that you think should be, please contact Matthew Dooley, Outreach Graduate Assistant, at [email protected].

Legislative News & Updates

Legislative Deadlines
The Minnesota Legislature released its agreed-upon deadlines for the 2025 session. The first and second deadlines are both on Friday, April 4 at 5:00 p.m. The third deadline will be on Friday, April 11 at 12:00 noon. Per joint rules, the third deadline applies to “major appropriation and finance bills,” while the first deadline is for committees to “act favorably on bills in the house of origin”, and second deadlines is for committees to act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other house.”

Federal Staffing Changes Impact Head Start Programs
The Associated Press reports that at least 5 of the 12 regional Head Start offices were closed on April 2, and that dozens of federal employees who administer the federal program for early education have been put on leave.

DCYF Budget
On March 27, the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on the proposed budget for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), SF2705. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill.

Foster Youth Bill of Rights
HF3024 establishes a bill of rights intended to ensure that foster youth receive the level of care of non-foster youth, and a higher level of care than the care they would have received if not placed in foster care. The bill was introduced on April 1 and has been referred to the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee.

DCYF Technology Funding
HF1824 provides funding to connect children, youth and families in crisis with support systems. The proposed system would also allow caseworkers to submit a request through a technology portal which forwards the request to local organizations who are positioned to meet the need. The bill was heard on March 26 by the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee and was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Modifying Definition of Children in Need of Protection and Services
On April 1 the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee heard testimony on HF1614, which adds additional conditions to the definition of a child in need of protection and services. The bill adds additional language to ensure that a custodian, parent or guardian who is unable to provide necessary care for a child due to lack of necessary services is not deemed to be ‘unwilling or unable’ to provide care. The House bill was placed on the General Register.

Educational Neglect Response
Current statute requires a child protection response after a child has seven unexcused school absences. SF2778 allows for schools to provide a prevention response to these instances prior to a child protection response. The bill was recommended to pass and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. Its companion bill HF1918 was re-referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law.

Heightened Penalties for Children Fentanyl Exposure
HF897 extends the penalties for exposing children to amphetamines in Minnesota statute §§ 152.137 to include fentanyl. The bill was heard by the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee on March 26 and was re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety.

DCYF Budget Bill Advances
On April 1 the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee heard testimony on the DCYF budget bill, HF2436. The bill does not include any funds to support food shelves. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Notice of Self-Reports of Child Care Violations
HF2643 intends to encourage child care providers to self-report violations by requiring that any self-report be included in postings of conditional licenses or correction orders. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill on April 1 by the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee.

Early Learning Scholarships
HF470 appropriates $96.5 million annually in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Early Learning Scholarship program. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill by the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee on April 1.

Out-of-School Survey
On March 26 the House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee heard testimony on HF1660. The bill directs the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to evaluate statewide availability of out-of-school and youth programming and to provide its findings to the legislature by February 15, 2026. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Increases for Head Start Funding and ParentChild+ program
HF1002 would increase funding by $15 million dollars for Head Start, which provides free early childhood education and other services to low-income families. HF994, provides $1.8 million in funding for the ParentChild+ program. Both bills were heard by the House Children Families Finance and Policy Committee on March 26 and were laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

African-American Homeplace Grants
SF1691 was heard by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on April 1. The bill appropriates $1 million dollars to the Birth Justice Collaborative which works to improve access to culturally competent healing and care for African-American families during pregnancy and postpartum period. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Video Monitoring for Child Care Centers
HF1915 requires child care centers in the state to install and utilize video cameras to monitor the safety of infants and toddlers and to retain footage for a minimum 60 days. The bill was authored in the wake of recent cases of child abuse occurring in several Minnesota day care centers. The bill was re-referred to the House Committee on Children Families Finance and Policy Committee on March 27.

Posting of Maltreatment Memorandums
HF2305 was introduced to the House Committee on Children Families Finance and Policy Committee on March 26. The bill would require licensed child care centers who receive a maltreatment investigation memorandum must publicly post the memoranda for ten years. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Child Care Licensing Conditional Licensing
On March 26 the House Committee on Children Families Finance and Policy Committee heard testimony on HF2617. The bill attempts to reduce penalties for non-safety issues with child care issues and requires the commissioner of DCYF to work with stakeholders to create a standardized step of licensing visits, requires the commissioner to assign a liaison to work with licensed child care centers on the background study process, and expands the types of course work deemed acceptable to meet the qualification of a teacher. The bill was laid over.

Solutions to Children Boarding Act Advances
HF671 was heard by the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee on April 1. Among other actions, the bill establishes grant funding for children’s mental health, requires the creation of youth care transition teams to transfer youth from, emergency room, juvenile detention, residential treatment, and other settings to less restrictive settings and increases reimbursement rates for children’s mental health services. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. Its companion bill in the Senate, SF1561 has also been laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Youth Crisis Facility Bill Advances
SF2349 requires the commissioner of human services to provide updates and seek federal approval for children's mental health projects, establish a crisis stabilization facility, and require licensing for facilities for youth with sexual behavior concerns, among other actions. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on April 1. Its companion bill HF2040 was also laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Electronic Record-Keeping for Child Care Centers
HF1916 directs the commissioner of DCYF to establish an electronic record-keeping system for enrollment for Minnesota child care centers. The bill was heard on March 27 by the House Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law and was re-referred to the House Committee on Children Families Finance and Policy Committee.

Overhaul of Mandatory Reporter Curriculum
On April 4, the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on HF1346. The bill would require at least half of the mandatory training curriculum consist of training to recognize signs of maltreatment and abuse, and require the DCYF commissioner to create training using the expertise of professionals “including, but not limited to, medical professionals, attorneys, mental health professionals, and social workers.” The bill was placed on general orders and is expected to become law.

Coordinated Background Checks for Childcare
HF2226 would require the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to alert the Department of Human Services making a background check request of whether the individual applying for employment is the subject of investigation for crimes against children through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Law Enforcement Services Portal. The bill was re-referred to the House Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law.

Out-of-state Judicial Review of Maltreatment
HF1367 allows for judicial review and local agency investigations of out-of-state child maltreatment allegations. The bill was placed on the General Register by the House Committee on Children Youth and Families on April 3.

Funding for Rural Child Care Centers
HF2732 directs the commissioner of DCYF to establish and administer a rural child care payments program focused on improving access to child care and learning, and improving staff recruitment and retention. The bill was laid over on April 4.

Funding for Birth to Kindergarten Child Care and Learning
HF1383 directs the commissioner of DYCF to establish a scholarship program to assist qualifying Minnesotan families in paying for early childhood care and education. Family income must be below 150 percent of the state median income in order to qualify, among other criteria. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill on April 4.

Opportunities and Events

Advocacy for Children Day at the Capitol
April 7, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Safe Passage for Children’s 2025 Advocacy for Children Day at the Capitol is an opportunity to meet with legislators about key issues pertaining to the health and safety of children at risk of maltreatment.

Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Day on the Hill
April 9, 11 a.m.
Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Day on the Hill is a powerful day of action, remembrance and change at the State Capitol.

CASCW at the Capitol - April 2025

Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare

Contact

Website issues?

CASCW at the Capitol - April 2025

Contact

Connect With Us

Website issues?