PRIA Logo™
119-hr-714119th CongressWALLET

Jobs Now Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

Introduced

Summary

Retain local public-service employees by funding a two-year competitive pilot that would pay local governments and community groups to retain, hire, or train workers who provide public services. The pilot would focus support on jurisdictions with the greatest need.

Show full summary
  • Units of general local government and community-based organizations could apply for competitive grants to fund retention, hiring, or training. Eligible units explicitly include U.S. general-purpose political subdivisions, territories, and certain freely associated states.
  • Grants must use at least 50% of funds to retain employees who would otherwise be laid off, unless that share would exceed actual retention costs. Remaining funds may hire new public-service staff or pay for training for public-service or private-sector roles.
  • Grant awards encourage serving veterans, people with disabilities, those receiving unemployment benefits, and dislocated workers, and give priority to units with relatively high unemployment, foreclosure, and poverty rates.

*It would authorize $1.0 billion for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, increasing federal spending if appropriated.*

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Grants to Keep and Hire Public Workers

This bill would create a 2-year competitive pilot to give grants to local governments and community groups. It would authorize $1 billion for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. At least 50% of each grant would have to pay to keep public-service workers who would otherwise be laid off, unless that 50% is more than needed to retain them. After the retention requirement, remaining funds could pay to hire or train people for new public-service jobs, and community groups could use funds to hire or train people for public or private work. The Secretary would be asked to encourage focus on veterans, people with disabilities, people on unemployment, and dislocated workers. Grants would be prioritized for places with higher unemployment, foreclosure, and poverty rates. Not later than two years after the first appropriation, the Secretary would report to Congress on hires, training, retention, and best practices.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

FL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 8/31/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation