SB-1345 • 2026

Foster children: rights of foster youth.

Children

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Wahab
Last action: 2026-06-01
Official status: Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on enforcement mechanisms or communication requirements for the new rights.

Foster Children's Rights: Personal Belongings

This law adds a new right for foster youth to have their personal belongings transported safely during placement changes and ensures they can maintain reasonable access to these items.

What This Bill Does

Adds a new right for foster children to have their personal things moved carefully when they change homes, using suitcases, duffel bags, backpacks, or moving boxes instead of trash bags.
Ensures foster youth can keep reasonable access to and use of their personal belongings while in care.

Who It Names or Affects

Foster children who are minors or nonminors
Child welfare agencies that provide services to foster youth

Terms To Know

foster care: A system where children without a home live with families approved by the government.
child welfare services: Services provided to help protect and support children's well-being, such as foster care.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how often or under what circumstances these rights must be communicated to the youth.
It is unclear if there are penalties for agencies that do not follow these rules.
There is no effective date provided, so it's unknown when this law will start.

Bill History

2026-06-01 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
2026-05-22 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2026-05-22 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 33. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2026-05-20 California Legislative Information
Ordered to special consent calendar.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2026-05-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (May 14).
2026-05-08 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 14.
2026-05-04 California Legislative Information
May 4 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-24 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 4.
2026-04-21 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 3955.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HUMAN S.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 20.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Coms. on HUMAN S. and APPR.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-03-04 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
Read first time.
2026-02-23 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 1345, as amended, Wahab.
Foster children: rights of foster youth.
Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, which is defined to mean public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of specified purposes, including protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families, and restoring to their families children who have been removed. Existing law provides that it is the policy of the state that all minors and nonminors in foster care have specified rights, including, among others, the right to have storage space for private use, the right to be free from unreasonable searches of personal belongings, the right to be informed of these rights in an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate manner, and the right to receive a copy of these rights, at specified
intervals.
Under this bill, the foster youth would have an additional right to have their personal belongings transported during placement changes and other moves in a manner preserving the youth’s property and dignity, including the use of suitcases, duffel bags, backpacks, and moving boxes rather than trash bags or other inappropriate receptacles.
The bill would also include the right to maintain reasonable access to and use of personal belongings, clothing, and personal items.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF