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119-hr-9118119th Congress

Enhanced Alerts for Missing Loved Ones with Disabilities Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]

Introduced

Summary

Would expand Ashanti Alerts to explicitly include adults with developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. It would also add required training so responders can better identify and assist missing adults and children who have developmental disabilities.

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  • Families and caregivers: Would see alerts add whether the missing person has a developmental disability, Alzheimer’s, or dementia so search teams can match descriptions and consider care needs quickly.
  • Missing children: Would require states, territories, and tribal governments to adopt training and educational programs focused on responding to reported missing children with developmental disabilities.
  • Law enforcement and alert systems: Would change alert language to list more specific diagnoses and require training for responding to missing adults with developmental disabilities, improving consistency between alerts and on-the-ground response.
  • Legal clarity for definitions: Would use the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 definition of "developmental disability" so alerts and training reference a standard federal definition.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Alerts list developmental disabilities and dementia

If enacted, Ashanti Alerts would have to say if a missing person has a developmental disability, Alzheimer's disease, or dementia. The bill would define "developmental disability" by reference to the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act. It would replace wording about a "proven" disability with wording that the person "has been diagnosed with" a mental, physical, or developmental disability, Alzheimer's, or dementia. Families and law enforcement would get clearer diagnosis-based information in alerts.

Training to find missing people with disabilities

This bill would add training and educational programs for responders who handle reports of missing adults with developmental disabilities. It would also require training programs for States, territories, and tribal governments to respond to missing children with developmental disabilities. The training would be aimed at law enforcement and child-protection staff. No new funding or deadlines are listed in the text provided.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Alford, Mark [R-MO-4]

MO • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Smith, Jason [R-MO-8]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 6/3/2026

  • Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]

    WA • R

    Sponsored 7/20/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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