BRIDGE Act
Sponsored By: Representative Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
Introduced
Summary
Expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to include people with criminal-justice histories and out-of-school youth and extends the credit through 2030. This bill would widen which hires qualify for employer tax credits and direct agencies to issue guidance and a federal study of the claiming process.
Show full summary
- Employers would be able to claim the WOTC for newly eligible hires and the credit's expiration would move to December 31, 2030. The changes apply to workers who begin work after enactment.
- Qualified criminal justice-impacted individuals would be a new eligible group. They must be certified by a designated local agency, have been convicted of a felony or incarcerated or on probation for at least 90 days, and be hired within three years after conviction, release, or probation discharge.
- Qualified opportunity youth would also become eligible. That term means individuals certified as out-of-school youth under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
- The Secretary of the Treasury would issue regulations or guidance to implement the changes. The Comptroller General would study how employers claim the credit and report recommendations to Congress and the Secretary within one year.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
More hiring tax credit for employers
If enacted, employers would be able to claim the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for more hires. The bill would extend the credit through December 31, 2030 instead of December 31, 2025. Employers could claim the credit for workers certified as "qualified criminal justice‑impacted individuals" (people convicted of a felony or incarcerated/placed on probation at least 90 days) if hired within 3 years of the conviction, release, or end of probation. Employers could also claim the credit for workers certified as "qualified opportunity youth" (out‑of‑school youth under WIOA section 129(a)(1)(B)). The Treasury would be directed to write rules to implement the changes, including steps to improve interagency coordination and simplify employer paperwork.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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