The Informed Foster Youth Act of 2026 amends federal foster care requirements to ensure that youth in the system receive critical information and documents needed for independence. The bill requires states to provide teens age 14 and older with information about available support services at regular meetings and court hearings, and mandates that youth receive free copies of important documents including birth certificates, Social Security cards, driver's licenses, and consumer credit reports. The legislation also requires states to create personalized transition plans that include specific information about housing, health insurance, education, employment services, and Medicaid eligibility, and to obtain signed acknowledgments from youth confirming they understand their rights regarding education, health care, visitation, and protection from exploitation. The changes take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year after enactment, though states that need to change state law to comply have until the first regular legislative session after the law's enactment to do so.
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