# 119-s-3492: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025

119-s-3492, Essential Caregivers Act of 2025, 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 2026-06-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3492
- As of: 2026-06-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3492
- Congress: 119
- Title: Essential Caregivers Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-12-16
- Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT)
- Cosponsors: 27
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-06-10

## Summary

**Would guarantee in-person access for designated essential caregivers of nursing home residents during emergencies, with written safety rules, fast appeals, and limited short-term denials.** - Residents and families: Residents or their representatives could name one or more essential caregivers. At least one caregiver must be allowed to visit daily and at any time; end-of-life residents and residents in distress always get access. Denials can last up to 7 days, or up to 14 days with state health agency approval. - Facilities and staff: Facilities would have to provide written safety protocols that are no more restrictive than staff rules, give a written warning before denying access, and provide a written explanation within 24 hours if access is denied. If a facility fails to implement a required corrective action plan it may face a civil money penalty up to $5,000. - State agencies and enforcement: State survey agencies would have to accept appeals and begin investigations within 2 business days and issue a determination within 48 hours. If a violation is found the agency must require immediate access and a corrective action plan within 7 days.

## Cosponsors (27)

- Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX), 2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2026-01-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (R-MT), 2026-01-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] (R-NC), 2026-01-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-01-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND] (R-ND), 2026-01-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-01-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR] (R-AR), 2026-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2026-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2026-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL] (R-AL), 2026-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT] (R-MT), 2026-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI] (D-MI), 2026-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (D-CT), 2026-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO] (R-MO), 2026-03-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-03-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME] (R-ME), 2026-03-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2026-04-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL] (R-FL), 2026-04-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2026-04-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL] (R-AL), 2026-04-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK), 2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] (R-LA), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY] (R-WY), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Fast Appeals and State Enforcement: benefit, medium. If enacted, HHS would have to write a final appeals rule within two years. Residents and essential caregivers could appeal denials to the State survey agency. The state agency would have to start investigating within two business days and decide within 48 hours after starting. During appeals, the n…
- Guaranteed Caregiver Visits During Emergencies: benefit, medium. If enacted, and starting two years after enactment, facilities would have to allow at least one essential caregiver to visit and assist a resident every day and at any time during an emergency that limits normal visitation. Facilities would have to give written safety protocols and reasonable roomm…
- Right to Name Essential Caregivers: benefit, medium. If enacted, and starting two years after enactment, residents in covered long‑term care facilities would be able to designate one or more essential caregivers. Residents could change their choices at any time. If a resident cannot decide, a resident representative could designate for them. Designat…
- Caregiver Rights for More Facilities: benefit, low. If enacted, and starting two years after enactment, the caregiver designation and access rules would also apply to intermediate care facilities for the intellectually disabled. Inpatient rehabilitation units on the same campus as certain covered facilities would follow the same caregiver rules as i…
- HHS Must Consult Stakeholders: benefit, low. If enacted, and starting two years after enactment, the HHS Secretary would have to write regulations to carry out the bill. The Secretary would be required to consult residents, family members, long‑term care ombudsmen, resident advocates, and nursing home providers before finalizing the rules. Th…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.
- 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan.
- 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California.

## Sources
- [119-s-3492 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3492)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755)
- [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3492 (as of 2026-06-10).