Helping Young Americans Save for Retirement Act
Sponsored By: Representative Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
Introduced
Summary
Expand retirement-plan eligibility to age 18. This bill would let younger employees join employer pension and 401(k) plans either by meeting a revised age test at 18 or by completing two consecutive 12-month periods with at least 500 hours of service. It would also align Employee Retirement Income Security Act and tax-code language and add an accounting rule for participant counts.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Earlier 401(k) access at age 18
If enacted, workers could join employer retirement plans at age 18. You could also qualify after two back‑to‑back 12‑month periods with at least 500 hours each. This would apply to 401(k)s and other employer pension plans. Plans would start using these rules in plan years that begin one year after enactment.
Five-year delay counting young participants
If enacted, plans would not count employees who join only because of the new age‑18 rule for five years. The five‑year clock would start when the first such employee becomes a participant. This could ease audit and compliance work for plan sponsors. It would apply in plan years that begin one year after enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]
OH • R
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1]
MI • R
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]
FL • R
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov