Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Introduced
Summary
Guarantee community integration for people who need long-term services and supports (LTSS). This bill would create a federal right to community-based LTSS, bar discriminatory policies that push people into institutions, and require planning to move people into integrated homes.
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- People who rely on LTSS would gain explicit rights to community-based supports and more individual control. The bill names help with daily activities, medication and other health-related tasks, and it promotes self-direction and support for informal caregivers.
- States and LTSS insurers would have to assess their systems with a self-evaluation within 36 months and, if gaps exist, carry out approved transition plans within 12 years to shift people and funding from institutions into community settings.
- The Attorney General would have to issue final regulations within 2 years and could enforce the law. The Health and Human Services administrator would review transition plans, require public participation, and push for affordable, accessible housing and home modifications to support community living.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New rights and enforcement for people with disabilities
If enacted, public entities and LTSS insurers would have to offer community-based LTSS to anyone who would otherwise qualify for institutional placement. The bill would ban waiting lists, service caps, forced placement in congregate settings, and other discriminatory rules. It would create a federal private right to sue (generally starting two years after enactment), let the Attorney General investigate and sue, and allow courts to award damages and order remedies. The Attorney General would have to issue final rules within two years, and courts would be told to interpret parts of the law consistent with existing disability civil-rights laws.
Who qualifies and what counts
If enacted, the bill would define who is an "individual with an LTSS disability" and what settings count as community-based. You would qualify if you need help with ADLs, IADLs, or health-related tasks and are institutionalized or at risk of institutionalization. Community-based housing would include private units, individually leased homes, and small group residences (no more than four unrelated people) with lockable sleeping doors, visitor rights, tenant control, and accessibility. These rules would decide who can be offered community-based services and protections instead of institutional care.
More accessible, affordable housing help
If enacted, public agencies and LTSS insurers that fund housing would have to expand affordable, accessible, integrated housing options. They would coordinate with housing authorities, create preferences or set-asides for people moving from institutions, and fund home modifications. They would prioritize those with the lowest incomes until unmet needs are met. These steps would aim to lower housing barriers and reduce housing and care costs for people who need LTSS.
Transition plans, reviews, and complaint process
If enacted, each public entity and LTSS insurer would have to complete a public self-evaluation within 36 months. If the evaluation shows noncompliance, the entity would file a transition plan by 54 months and aim to meet the Act's requirements within 12 years. The Administrator would review plans within 90 days and could require revisions. Entities would also name a compliance coordinator, publish that person's contact information, adopt grievance procedures, and federal agencies would have to cooperate with these duties.
Religious providers' preference allowed
If enacted, the bill would allow religious organizations that provide community LTSS to prefer people of their faith when that preference is tied to their beliefs. This could help some people get services from faith-based providers. It could also limit access for others depending on how providers apply the preference.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
TN • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
TX • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
ME • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
DE • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
VA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
MS • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]
NJ • R
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
WI • R
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]
IN • D
Sponsored 6/25/2026
Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]
PA • R
Sponsored 6/29/2026
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/29/2026
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 7/9/2026
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
CO • D
Sponsored 7/9/2026
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/9/2026
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/13/2026
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
PA • R
Sponsored 9/2/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov