HB 25 Ohio House · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Establish the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 27, 2025 Last action Mar 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced As Passed by the House · 9 edits · Mar 4, 2026
MAJOR
The bill was substantially rewritten and expanded from its original version. The original focused on a Foster-to-College Scholarship Program and hiring a full-time school foster care liaison. The new version creates a broader 'Fostering School Success Act' that establishes foster family navigators in every school building, expands the duties of local foster care education liaisons, and adds comprehensive compliance requirements for community and STEM schools.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded significantly from a scholarship-focused initiative to a comprehensive support system for foster youth in schools, including new roles for foster family navigators and expanded compliance requirements for community and STEM schools.
REQUIREMENT

New requirement for every school building to designate a foster family navigator as a primary point of contact for foster youth attending that building.

Expanded duties for local foster care education liaisons to include coordinating with custodial agencies, managing disputes, providing professional development, and ensuring transportation procedures.

New requirement for foster family navigators to engage with each foster student at least once per semester and help them plan for college, career training, or workforce entry.

Added extensive compliance requirements for community and STEM schools, including detailed contract specifications, financial controls, and operational standards.

New requirement for public children services agencies to provide life skills assessments to foster youth and share them with foster family navigators upon request.

Added requirement for departments to develop annual training for foster care education liaisons and foster family navigators within six months of effective date.

DEFINITION

Added new section 3313.475 establishing foster care education liaisons and foster family navigators, replacing the original focus on a single full-time school foster care liaison.

SCOPE

Bill title and purpose changed from 'Foster-to-College Scholarship Program' to 'Fostering School Success Act' with broader focus on school support rather than just scholarships.

FISCAL

Removed specific appropriation language for the scholarship program and replaced with broader mandate for agencies to collaborate and share resources.

Floor votes · House Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

922
Passed
Total votes 94
Mar 5, 2026
D Democratic33
33 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican61
59 Yea 2 Nay
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Mar 25, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee
upper
Mar 11, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
upper
Mar 5, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (92-2)
house
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee
lower
Jan 27, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
lower
2 primary · 42 co-sponsors

Sponsors