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H.R. 3420119th CongressIn markupLatest action Mar 26, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 3420 replaces terms like "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" across federal laws, without changing any rights or benefits.
35-second read · 4 questions answered below
HR 3420, the Words Matter Act of 2025, replaces outdated terms like "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" with terms such as "intellectual disability" across many federal laws, including those on military healthcare, nursing homes, sentencing, Medicaid, school lunch programs, and civil rights protections. It also directs federal agencies to update regulations to match, while noting old terms for reference during the transition.
This affects government agencies, legal documents, and federal regulations. It does not require states to update their own laws.
The bill changes only terminology, not policy, and explicitly states no one's rights, benefits, eligibility, or legal protections will change as a result.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.