The proposed bill, known as the Foster Child Scholarships Act, aims to establish a scholarship program to support eligible students in foster care by providing financial assistance for attending eligible private schools. The bill defines key terms such as "Department," "Educational decisionmaker," "Eligible student," "Eligible school," and "HOPE Scholarship." It mandates the Department of Health and Human Services to create the Foster Child Scholarship Program, which will offer HOPE Scholarships to eligible students starting in the 2025-26 school year. The program ensures that students maintain their eligibility for scholarships even if they are placed out of the foster care system, up until their high school graduation or their twenty-first birthday.

Additionally, the bill requires the department to report annually on the number of students receiving scholarships, the total amount awarded, and demographic information about the beneficiaries. It also emphasizes that the act does not grant the state any authority over the governance of eligible schools. To support the implementation of this act, the Legislature intends to appropriate $200,000 from the General Fund for the fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval due to the existence of an emergency.