Thursday’s release of the February 2025 Budget and Economic Forecast significantly decreased the predicted yearly budget surplus from $616 million to $456 million, leaving far less funding for the State Legislature and Governor Tim Walz to work with. Nevertheless, efforts to reshape the child welfare system continue, including bills aimed at raising reimbursement rates, revising mandatory reporter training, and reshaping responses to truancy.
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.
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].