# 119-s-1855: Care for Military Kids Act

119-s-1855, Care for Military Kids Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-13).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1855
- As of: 2026-06-13
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1855
- Congress: 119
- Title: Care for Military Kids Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-05-22
- Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-06-13

## Summary

**Would treat active-duty military families who relocate as residents of their new State for Medicaid eligibility.** This bill would create a new "active duty relocated individual" category and require States to count these people as residents for medical assistance determinations beginning January 1, 2028 unless the person opts out. - Families: Relocated service members, their dependents, and people who left active duty within 12 months would be eligible to be treated as State residents for Medicaid. This helps keep coverage decisions tied to the family move instead of losing benefits because of a change in State. - People on HCBS waiting lists: If someone is on a Home and Community-Based Services waiting list when they move, they would remain on that list until the State completes an assessment and decides eligibility when a slot opens, or the person chooses to be removed. - States and administration: States must provide Medicaid payments consistent with available assistance in the military service relocation State and could follow guidance the HHS Secretary issues. The bill also allows extra time for States that need state legislation to comply. *This bill would increase federal spending by $1 million per year from 2026 through 2030 to implement these changes.*

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC), 2025-05-22T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Medicaid residency for military families: benefit, high. If enacted, starting January 1, 2028, active-duty service members who move to another State and many who left within 12 months would be treated as residents of the new State for Medicaid unless they opt out. Dependents who move with the member would get the same treatment. People receiving home and…
- HHS implementation funding for Medicaid: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would give HHS $1,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to help put these Medicaid changes in place. The money would remain available until spent.
- State deadline delay for Medicaid rules: mixed, medium. If enacted, the Medicaid changes would generally take effect on enactment, but HHS could let a State delay complying if the State needs to pass new laws (not funding laws). For those States, the deadline would be the first day of the first calendar quarter after the State legislature's first regula…

## Related bills

- 119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act
- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act

## Sources
- [119-s-1855 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1855)

## Related
- [119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4744)
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5238)
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2838)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1855 (as of 2026-06-13).