HB661 Relative to the department of health and human services management of social security payments, supplemental security income payments, and veterans benefits for children in foster care.
Relative to the department of health and human services management of social security payments, supplemental security income payments, and veterans benefits for children in foster care.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Mixed
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Could ensure foster children's own federal benefits are preserved for them rather than absorbed by the state system.
Your Community
Protecting the financial rights of foster children gives them a foundation for independence when they age out of care.
Your Freedom
Ensures foster children's rightful benefits aren't taken by the state, protecting their financial autonomy.
Status
Conference Committee Report 2026-2061c: Adopted, Voice Vote 06/04/2026 House Journal 15
Sponsor
Mary Wallner (D)
The Short Version
Addresses how DHHS manages federal benefits (Social Security, SSI, VA benefits) for children in foster care. In many states, foster children's benefits are kept by the state instead of being saved for the children.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Children in foster care
- ▲ Young adults aging out of foster care
- ▲ Disability and veterans' rights advocates
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ State budget if it currently retains these benefits
Bill statuses as of May 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.