State Representative Garnet F. Coleman (D-Houston) announced that he successfully passed legislation to extend health coverage for children who were in foster care. The new law will help former foster care children to continue to receive health coverage until they are twenty-three years old, so long as they are in college, much like private health insurance that families have. The previous law only granted health coverage until age twenty-one.

"Extending health coverage for foster children to age 23 will help ensure more Texans receive the health care they deserve," Rep. Coleman said. “Access to health care was a key concern of foster care youth that I met with in the fall at a foster care youth summit."

Rep. Coleman filed HB 2380 this session that would have extended health coverage for foster care children through age twenty-five. Rep. Coleman offered an amendment to extend through age twenty-five onto Senate Bill 10, but it was negotiated down to age twenty-three when the bill went to conference committee.

"I wish we could have extended health coverage to age twenty-five and I wish we could have included all youth, not just those in college, but I'm pleased with the progress we made this session," Rep. Coleman said. "I will work hard next session to further extend health coverage for all foster care youth until age twenty-five."