PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 6, 2025
Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act
This bill establishes work requirements under Medicaid for able-bodied adults.
Specifically, the bill requires individuals who are between the ages of 18 and 65 and who are not otherwise unable to work due to a medical condition, family situation, or other listed reason to work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week, based on a monthly average, in order to qualify for Medicaid.
People & committees
Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2] · R–TX
Legislative record
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Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-02-06 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
This bill would require adults covered by its proposed Medicaid rule to work or volunteer to receive medical assistance each month. Beginning January 1, 2026, they would need to work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week, averaged over the month. The bill excludes several groups from the requirement, including pregnant people and certain caregivers.
(88) beginning January 1, 2026, not provide medical assistance with respect to a month to an able-bodied adult (as defined in subsection (uu)(2)) that has not met the work requirement described in subsection (uu)(1) for such month.
(A) The adult works 20 hours or more per week, based on a monthly average. (B) The adult volunteers for 20 hours or more per week, based on a monthly average.
(2) Able-bodied adult defined In this subsection, the term able-bodied adult means any individual who is not—
(C) pregnant; (D) the primary parent or caretaker of a dependent child under 6 years of age;
Section 1 would name the bill the Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act.
This Act may be cited as the Jobs and Opportunities for Medicaid Act.
The proposed rule would bar medical assistance for a month when a covered adult fails to meet the requirement. Working and volunteering are listed as separate ways to qualify, each requiring at least 20 hours per week on a monthly average.
(88) beginning January 1, 2026, not provide medical assistance with respect to a month to an able-bodied adult (as defined in subsection (uu)(2)) that has not met the work requirement described in subsection (uu)(1) for such month.
such adult satisfies at least one of the following with respect to such month: (A) The adult works 20 hours or more per week, based on a monthly average. (B) The adult volunteers for 20 hours or more per week, based on a monthly average.
The requirement would cover ages 18 through 65, inclusive, unless another exclusion applies. People younger than 18 or older than 65 would be excluded.
(2) Able-bodied adult defined In this subsection, the term able-bodied adult means any individual who is not— (A) under 18 years of age or over 65 years of age;
Pregnant people and people medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment would be excluded from the proposed requirement.
(2) Able-bodied adult defined In this subsection, the term able-bodied adult means any individual who is not—
(B) medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment; (C) pregnant;
The proposed exclusions would cover the primary parent or caretaker of a dependent child under 6, or of a dependent child with a serious medical condition or disability. For the latter exclusion, the state agency responsible for the Medicaid plan would determine the child's qualifying condition or disability.
(2) Able-bodied adult defined In this subsection, the term able-bodied adult means any individual who is not—
(D) the primary parent or caretaker of a dependent child under 6 years of age; (E) the primary parent or caretaker of a dependent child with a serious medical condition or disability, as determined by the State agency established or designated to administer or supervise the administration of the State plan;
People receiving state or federal unemployment compensation would be excluded if they also comply with any applicable work requirements under that law.
(2) Able-bodied adult defined In this subsection, the term able-bodied adult means any individual who is not—
(F) receiving unemployment compensation under State or Federal law and, as applicable, complying with work requirements under such State or Federal law;
People participating in a drug addiction or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation program would be excluded if the program meets the definition referenced in section 3(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
(2) Able-bodied adult defined In this subsection, the term able-bodied adult means any individual who is not—
(G) participating in a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program (as defined in section 3(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008).
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated December 5, 2025, records introduction in the House and referral to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on February 6, 2025.
Source snapshot updated 2025-12-05T21:56:41Z. 2025-02-06: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. 2025-02-06: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-02-06. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy change attached to appropriations was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish what appears in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version; the bundle does not establish formal earmark status through accompanying disclosure materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No materially narrow preferential benefit was identified in the complete supplied introduced text under the requested definition. The exclusions define the general population subject to the proposed requirement. This conclusion is limited to this version and does not extend to other versions or accompanying materials.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Dec 5, 2025. How PlainBill uses AI