NACC Joins Sign-On Letters
- Protecting Our Students in Schools Act: NACC joined several organizations in urging Congress to pass the Protecting Our Students in Schools Act. If passed the bill would prohibit corporal punishment in schools.
- Opposing CTC/ EITC Provisions in 2025 Reconciliation: This sign-on letter opposes the changes to the Child Tax Credit (CTC)/Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in the tax plan proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee. The proposed changes would increase child poverty and raise costs for working families.
- Opposing SSBG and TANF cuts: This sign-on letter urges Congress to protect the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs. The proposed cuts would eliminate child care options that children and families rely on.
- Advocacy for children and families in the budget reconciliation process: A letter was sent to the Senate and House separately. The letters urge Congress to reject cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), SSBG, and TANF—all of which are essential programs for the well-being of young children and their families. The letter also call on them to reject funding immigration policies that directly harm young children.
- Unaccompanied Children Support Letter: This sign-on letter urges the Senate to reject provisions of the reconciliation bill that would dismantle the protection system for unaccompanied immigrant children.
NACC Submits Comment
- NACC submitted comment to the Office of Refugee Resettlement expressing concern about a recent rule change.
Amicus
- Jonathan R. v. Morrisey: NACC joined a coalition of amici in a Fourth Circuit brief regarding the importance of federal courts to seek redress for harms experienced while in foster care.
Counsel for Kids Legislative Updates
Legislative Session Wrap-Up
The legislative session in most states has ended. State lawmakers considered bills to ensure high-quality legal service delivery (Arizona House Bill 2604; Montana Senate Bill 151) and youth access to legal counsel (Hawai’i House Bill 900; Indiana House Bill 1485; Iowa House File 373 / HF 953).
Victory!
The Missouri legislature passed House Bill 737 that would require the appointment of legal counsel for children 14 and older who are subject to child protection court proceedings. An appointed guardian ad litem (GAL) would transition to serve as a client-directed attorney at the child’s 14th birthday, unless a judge determines the child to have diminished capacity. The bill would also establish a “Coordinating Board” within the state supreme court responsible for establishing training requirements and standards of practice for GALs, children’s attorneys, and parent attorneys. The proposal awaits the Governor’s signature. Upon enactment, the bill’s effective date is January 1, 2028.
Still Going
California Assembly Bill 373 would remove statutory language that prevents counsel from representing nonminor dependent youth’s expressed wishes when those wishes conflict with the safety or protection of the youth thereby changing model of representation to a client-directed model of representation. The bill was passed by the Assembly and ordered to the Senate on April 7. It awaits Senate committee assignment. The California legislative session will not end until September.