Bill · S. 4247· Senate(119-S-4247)
Guardianship Bill of Rights Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 3/26/2026
- Last activity
- 3/26/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Tammy Duckworth
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Guardianship Bill of Rights Act of 2026 aims to establish fundamental rights for individuals being considered for or currently in protective arrangements like guardianships and conservatorships. It seeks to protect the liberty of older adults and persons with disabilities by promoting less restrictive alternatives, such as supported decisionmaking. The bill mandates the creation of a Council to develop standards for these arrangements and their review. Additionally, it requires the Secretary to develop standards for establishing, modifying, and discontinuing protective arrangements. The Act also establishes a Protection and Advocacy Program to oversee and monitor these arrangements at the state and local levels.
Yes· 3 of 10
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?+10
The act creates a comprehensive bill of rights and oversight system specifically to protect the autonomy of people with disabilities.
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?+10
The bill establishes a bill of rights for people with disabilities to ensure they have autonomy and access to less restrictive decision-making supports.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+9
The bill provides significant protections and rights for older adults against overbroad and restrictive guardianships.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Fundamental Rights: The bill establishes specific rights for covered individuals, including the right to significant input into life decisions regarding health, education, finances, and relationships (Section 2(a)(5)).
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Access to Legal Representation: It provides a right to an independent, qualified, and compensated lawyer who represents the expressed wishes of the individual (Section 2(a)(5)(C)).
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Promotion of Less Restrictive Options: The bill encourages the use of alternative arrangements and supported decisionmaking to help people maintain autonomy instead of using broad guardianships (Section 2(a)(5)(B) and Section 5(b)).
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Regular Oversight and Review: It establishes a right to at least an annual meaningful review of a protective arrangement to ensure it is still necessary (Section 2(a)(5)(F) and Section 5(a)(2)).
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Legal Advocacy and Investigation: Through the Protection and Advocacy Program, individuals can receive legal representation to modify or discontinue arrangements and can have incidents of abuse investigated (Section 6(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly detailed in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For People With Disabilities+10Good For Seniors+9Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Native Americans+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+8Improves Privacy Rights+7Improves Government Transparency+6
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Disability Rights+10Improves Voting Rights+5
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5
- 3/26/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont