SB 2571 Mississippi Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Foster Youth Earned Benefits Protection for Success Act; enact.

SB 2571 requires Mississippi's child protection agency to check within 60 days of a child entering foster care whether they qualify for federal benefits (like Social Security survivors' benefits), and to apply for those benefits on their behalf. It mandates the agency to manage these funds in special accounts (e.g., ABLE accounts) and create a "Success Sequence Savings Plan" allowing youth to access portions of conserved benefits upon reaching milestones like high school graduation, obtaining a driver's license, or enrolling in postsecondary education. The agency must provide annual accountings, ensure funds aren't used for general care costs, and release remaining funds to the youth at age 18 or upon aging out of foster care. This directly affects all Mississippi foster youth by securing their earned federal benefits and providing structured financial support for independence.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 11, 2026 Last action Mar 3, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced Current version · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended after passage by the Senate to add a new sponsor, streamline formatting in the title section, and include a repeal provision that would end the law's effectiveness on June 30, 2026. These changes suggest the bill may not yet be finalized for implementation, as the repeal date conflicts with the July 1, 2026 effective date. The substantive policy content regarding foster youth benefits remains largely unchanged.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains the same - it applies to children in Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services custody. However, the repeal provision creates uncertainty about whether the law will ever take effect.
TIMELINE

Added a repeal provision stating the act shall stand repealed on June 30, 2026, which conflicts with the July 1, 2026 effective date and suggests the bill may not be ready for implementation.

TECHNICAL

Added Senator Simmons (13th) as a co-sponsor to the bill, expanding the legislative support beyond the original single sponsor.

Changed the bill title from 'As Introduced' to 'As Passed the Senate' to reflect the legislative status change.

Minor formatting changes to spacing and punctuation throughout the document, including changes to section numbering references.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 9, 2026

How they voted

510
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 52
Feb 9, 2026
D Democratic18
17 Yea 1
94% Yea
R Republican34
34 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Feb 16, 2026
Committee
Referred To Youth and Family Affairs;Judiciary A
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Introduced
Transmitted To House
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed As Amended
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amended
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass
upper
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
Referred To Medicaid
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors