United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 23 R · 21 D cosponsors

HR 9641 — Essential Caregivers Act of 2026

Last action — Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 38 - 0.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced July 13, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 44 sponsors

    1 primary, 43 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (23 R · 21 D) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill addresses the role of essential caregivers in healthcare settings.

The Essential Caregivers Act of 2026 focuses on recognizing and establishing guidelines for essential caregivers in healthcare. It aims to ensure that caregivers can provide support in various healthcare environments.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means families can have designated caregivers actively involved in their loved one's healthcare.

Summary

Essential Caregivers Act of 2026This bill requires certain nursing and long-term care facilities to ensure residents have access to their designated essential caregivers during periods of restricted visitation.Specifically, the bill requires Medicare skilled nursing facilities, long-term care hospitals, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, as well as Medicaid nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, to allow residents to designate two essential caregivers and to allow these caregivers in-person access to residents even when visitation is otherwise restricted. Facilities may limit access of essential caregivers only in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as specified. Essential caregivers must agree to follow all safety protocols established by the facility, which may be no more restrictive than the protocols for staff.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  4. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  5. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  6. Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 38 - 0.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 43 co-sponsors · 503 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (43)

Not signed on (503)

503 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 503 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights healthcare labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 9641 do?
Essential Caregivers Act of 2026This bill requires certain nursing and long-term care facilities to ensure residents have access to their designated essential caregivers during periods of restricted visitation.Specifically, the bill requires Medicare skilled nursing facilities, long-term care hospitals, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, as well as Medicaid nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, to allow residents to designate two essential caregivers and to allow these caregivers in-person access to residents even when visitation is otherwise restricted. Facilities may limit access of essential caregivers only in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as specified. Essential caregivers must agree to follow all safety protocols established by the facility, which may be no more restrictive than the protocols for staff.
Who sponsors HR 9641?
HR 9641 is sponsored by Tenney, Claudia (Republican), Larson, John B. (Democratic), Carey, Mike (Republican), Bergman, Jack (Republican), Craig, Angie (Democratic), Thompson, Glenn (Republican), Fitzpatrick, Brian K. (Republican), McBride, Sarah (Democratic), Franklin, Scott (Republican), Deluzio, Christopher R. (Democratic), Olszewski, Johnny (Democratic), Westerman, Bruce (Republican), Kamlager-Dove, Sydney (Democratic), Barragán, Nanette Diaz (Democratic), Frost, Maxwell (Democratic), Bean, Aaron (Republican), Steube, W. Gregory (Republican), Fuller, Clay (Republican), Fulcher, Russ (Republican), Tlaib, Rashida (Democratic), Vasquez, Gabe (Democratic), Langworthy, Nicholas A. (Republican), Suozzi, Thomas R. (Democratic), Lawler, Michael (Republican), Harrigan, Pat (Republican), Balderson, Troy (Republican), Dean, Madeleine (Democratic), Moore, Blake D. (Republican), Walkinshaw, James R. (Democratic), Wittman, Robert J. (Republican), Biggs, Sheri (Republican), Mann, Tracey (Republican), Hayes, Jahana (Democratic), Alford, Mark (Republican), Grijalva, Adelita S. (Democratic), Davis, Donald G. (Democratic), James, John (Republican), Morelle, Joseph D. (Democratic), Mannion, John W. (Democratic), DeLauro, Rosa L. (Democratic), Yakym, Rudy (Republican), Finstad, Brad (Republican), Bonamici, Suzanne (Democratic), and Stansbury, Melanie A. (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 9641?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced July 13, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HR 9641?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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