PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Congressional Research Service
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People & committees
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] · D–IL
Legislative record
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Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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: Jul 7, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-03-11 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.
The proposed Women's Retirement Protection Act would require spousal consent for many payments from retirement savings accounts, with exceptions. It would require retirement financial businesses to link consumers to federal educational resources. It would also establish competitive grants for women's financial education and for assistance to low-income women and domestic violence survivors seeking retirement benefits through domestic relations orders. The grant provisions authorize funding; they do not themselves provide the money.
This Act may be cited as the Women's Retirement Protection Act.
Each individual account plan to which section 205 does not apply shall provide that, except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), no distribution may be made under the plan unless the spousal consent requirements of subsection (e) are met.
such provider shall provide, in a manner consistent with subsection (c), an easily accessible link to the website of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to enable such entities to improve the financial literacy of women who are working age or in retirement
shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable such entities to assist low-income women and survivors of domestic violence in obtaining qualified domestic relations orders and ensuring that those women actually obtain the benefits to which they are entitled through those orders.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year.
The bill's findings describe gaps in retirement coverage and women's retirement income. For example, they state that about 28 percent of non-retired adults had no pension or retirement savings and that older women's median income was 83 percent of older men's. These are statements presented as congressional findings, not demonstrated effects of the proposal.
Congress finds the following: (1) Approximately 28 percent of non-retired adults have no defined benefit plan or retirement savings, according to 2023 data from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
the median income for women aged 65 and older in 2022 being just 83 percent of the median income of men aged 65 and older, including income from social security, pension plans, investments, and earnings.
Section 3 would add a spousal-consent requirement for distributions—payments out of retirement accounts—from individual account plans not subject to section 205 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. It would preserve any section 205 requirements that otherwise apply.
Each individual account plan to which section 205 does not apply shall provide that, except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), no distribution may be made under the plan unless the spousal consent requirements of subsection (e) are met.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt an individual account plan from the requirements of section 205 with respect to any participant.
The corresponding tax-code amendment would make compliance with the new consent rules a condition of qualified tax status for trusts belonging to defined contribution plans—retirement plans based on account contributions—not subject to the existing paragraph (11). Existing paragraph (11) requirements would remain applicable where relevant.
In the case of a defined contribution plan to which paragraph (11) does not apply, except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), a trust forming part of such plan shall not constitute a qualified trust under this section unless no distribution may be made under the plan unless the spousal consent requirements of subparagraph (E) are met.
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to exempt a defined contribution plan from the requirements of paragraph (11) with respect to any participant.
Both amendments would exempt legally required minimum withdrawals and certain payments that existing law allows without the account holder's consent. The cited existing statutes defining those payments are not reproduced.
(A) a minimum required distribution described in section 4974(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; (B) permitted under section 203(e)(1) to be made without the consent of the participant;
(I) a minimum required distribution described in section 4974(b), (II) permitted under section 411(a)(11) to be made without the consent of the participant
The two amendments differ on withdrawals below 25 percent of the account balance. The employee-benefits-law exception would be available only once per account; the tax-code exception contains no matching once-per-account restriction.
(C) in an amount that is less than 25 percent of the account balance, but not more than once per account;
(III) in an amount that is less than 25 percent of the account balance,
The consent requirement would also exclude specified survivor annuities—forms of retirement benefits with survivor protection—and substantially equal payments made at least annually over the joint lives or life expectancies of the account holder and spouse. The existing statutory definitions of the qualifying annuities are referenced rather than reproduced.
any distribution in the form of a qualified joint and survivor annuity (as defined in section 205(d)(1)), a qualified optional survivor annuity (as defined in section 205(d)(2)), a qualified preretirement survivor annuity (as defined in section 205(e)), or a series of substantially equal periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) made for the joint lives (or life expectancies) of the participant and the participant's spouse
If the account holder does not choose one of those protected payment forms, or the plan does not offer one, the entire vested benefit—the benefit the person has a nonforfeitable right to keep—could be distributed without the new consent requirement if half is transferred to the spouse's individual retirement plan. The transfer would receive the treatment specified in existing tax-code section 408(d)(6).
in the case of a participant who does not elect a form of benefit described in paragraph (2) under the plan or who is participating in a plan that does not provide such a form of benefit, any distribution of the participant's entire nonforfeitable accrued benefit if 50 percent of such accrued benefit is transferred to an individual retirement plan (as defined in section 7701(a)(37) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) of the spouse of the participant.
A transfer described in paragraph (3) to an individual retirement plan shall be treated in the same manner as a transfer under section 408(d)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
An eligible rollover—a transfer of retirement funds—made directly between trustees would be exempt if it goes to another plan covered by the new consent rules or existing section 205 protections.
Subsection (a) shall not apply to any distribution, involving a participant who has a spouse, that is an eligible rollover distribution (as defined in section 402(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) made in the form of a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer within the meaning of section 401(a)(31) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986— (1) to a plan to which this section or section 205 applies
A direct rollover to an individual retirement plan could also qualify for an exception if the spouse is the beneficiary or consents to another beneficiary. Later beneficiary changes would require spousal consent unless the spouse's original consent expressly allows further changes without it.
to an individual retirement plan (as defined in section 7701(a)(37) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) if— (A) the beneficiary of such plan is the spouse of the participant, or the spousal consent requirements of subsection (e) are met with respect to any designation of 1 or more other beneficiaries
may not be changed unless— (i) the spousal consent requirements of subsection (e) are met with respect to any such change, or (ii) the spousal consent under subparagraph (A) to the designation of a beneficiary other than the spouse expressly permits such designation to be changed without the further consent of the spouse.
Plans would have to give account holders a written explanation of their rights and their spouses' rights reasonably before a covered payment or beneficiary decision. Required spousal consent would have to be written, acknowledge the decision's effect, and be witnessed by a plan representative or notary public.
the plan provides to each participant, within a reasonable period of time before such distribution or designation or change of beneficiary is made and consistent with such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe, a written explanation of the rights of the participant and the participant's spouse under this section
the spouse of the participant consents in writing to the distribution or designation or change of beneficiary
acknowledges the effect of such distribution or designation or change of beneficiary; and (ii) is witnessed by a plan representative or a notary public.
Consent for a payment would normally have to be given during the preceding 90 days, although Treasury could set a different period. Consent, or a spouse-specific exception, would apply only to the particular spouse and transaction involved.
in the case of a distribution, the written consent under subparagraph (B) is made during the consent period
the term consent period means, with respect to any distribution— (A) the 90-day period immediately preceding the date of such distribution; or (B) such other period as the Secretary of the Treasury may provide.
Any written consent by a spouse under paragraph (1), or the establishment by a participant that an exception under paragraph (2) (other than subparagraph (A) thereof) applies with respect to a spouse, shall be effective only with respect to that spouse and to the distribution or designation or change of beneficiary to which it relates.
The written rights explanation would still be required, but consent and its associated formalities would be waived if the plan administrator is satisfied that the account holder has no spouse, has been married for less than one year, or cannot obtain consent because the spouse cannot be located. Treasury, consulting Labor, could establish additional circumstances for unavailable consent.
The requirements of paragraph (1) (other than subparagraph (A) thereof) shall not apply with respect to any distribution or designation or change of beneficiary if a participant establishes to the satisfaction of the plan administrator that— (A) there is no spouse; (B) the participant and the participant's spouse have not been married for at least 1 year as of the date of the distribution or designation or change of beneficiary; or (C) such consent cannot be obtained because— (i) the spouse cannot be located; or (ii) of such other circumstances as the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, may by regulations prescribe.
An individual could bring a civil action seeking appropriate relief for violations of the new employee-benefits-law rights. The bill also invokes rules similar to existing section 205(c)(6) for releasing plans from liability, without reproducing those rules.
Right of action Section 502(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1132) is amended
(12) by an individual for appropriate relief in the case of a violation of the individual's rights under section 205A.
Discharge of plan from liability Rules similar to the rules of section 205(c)(6) shall apply for purposes of this section.
Subject to the plan-amendment provisions, section 3 would apply to payments and rollovers in plan years beginning after the one-year anniversary of enactment. The start date therefore depends on enactment and each plan's year.
Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendments made by section 3 shall apply to distributions and rollover contributions made in plan years beginning after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Plans could receive temporary protection against being treated as operating contrary to their written terms while adopting conforming amendments. The deadline would be the last day of the first plan year beginning on or after three years after the date described in section 4(a); governmental plans would use five years instead.
such plan or contract shall be treated as being operated in accordance with the terms of the plan during the period described in paragraph (2)(C).
pursuant to the amendments made by section 3 or pursuant to any regulation issued under section 205A of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or section 401(a)(18) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by section 3
on or before the last day of the first plan year beginning on or after the date that is 3 years after the date described in subsection (a). In the case of a governmental plan (as defined in section 414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), this subparagraph shall be applied by substituting 5 years for 3 years in clause (ii).
That temporary protection would require the plan to operate as though the amendment were already in effect and to adopt it retroactively. The protected period would begin on the plan's specified effective date and end at the amendment deadline or earlier adoption.
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any amendment unless— (i) the plan or contract is operated as if such plan or contract amendment were in effect for the period described in subparagraph (C); and (ii) such plan or contract amendment applies retroactively for such period.
beginning on the effective date specified by the plan; and (ii) ending on the date described in subparagraph (A)(ii) (or, if earlier, the date the plan or contract amendment is adopted).
Section 5 would require businesses offering retirement financial products or services for sale, exchange, or other transfer to provide an easily accessible link to federal retirement and later-life financial education on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's website.
the term financial product or service provider means any person who engages in the business of providing any retirement financial product or service to any consumer.
In any offer for the sale, exchange, or other transfer of a retirement financial product or service to a consumer carried out by a financial product or service provider, such provider shall provide, in a manner consistent with subsection (c), an easily accessible link to the website of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
information, literature, guides, programs, tools, strategies, or any other resource produced by the CFPB or other Federal agency relating to retirement planning or later life economic security.
For this requirement, consumers would include people acquiring goods, services, products, or credit related to retirement or later-life financial security. The Financial Literacy and Education Commission would select and publish the link, its preferred format, and any accompanying description.
the term consumer means any person who purchases or acquires any goods, products, services, or credit related to the retirement or later life economic security of the consumer
the Financial Literacy and Education Commission shall determine and publish on its website the appropriate link to the CFPB’s website for access to the CFPB’s and other Federal agencies’ consumer education materials, the preferred format of such link, and any accompanying description of the CFPB and the consumer education materials associated with such link.
Section 6 would direct the Labor Department, through its Women's Bureau, to award competitive grants for financial education for working-age and retired women. Eligible recipients would be community organizations with demonstrated experience serving those women, applying under requirements set by the Secretary of Labor.
The Secretary of Labor, acting through the Director of the Women's Bureau, shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to enable such entities to improve the financial literacy of women who are working age or in retirement
the term eligible entity means a community-based organization with proven experience and expertise in serving working-age or retired women.
shall submit an application to the Secretary of Labor at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as such Secretary may require.
Each financial-education grant would be at least $250,000. Recipients would have to use the money for financial education and related outreach, awareness, and counseling about retirement planning and financial concepts.
The Secretary of Labor shall award grants under this section in amounts of not less than $250,000.
shall use the grant funds to develop and implement financial literacy education, and related activities including outreach, awareness building, and counseling to increase women's knowledge of retirement planning and consumer, economic, and personal financial concepts.
The financial-education program would authorize Congress to provide $100 million for fiscal year 2026 and every succeeding fiscal year, without a stated final year. This is authorization for appropriations, not an appropriation of money.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Section 7 would direct Labor's Women's Bureau, working with the Employee Benefits Security Administration, to award competitive grants helping low-income women and domestic violence survivors obtain qualified domestic relations orders and receive the benefits those orders entitle them to. These orders are the legal mechanism addressed by the program for securing benefit rights.
The Secretary of Labor, acting through the Director of the Women’s Bureau and in conjunction with the Assistant Secretary of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable such entities to assist low-income women and survivors of domestic violence in obtaining qualified domestic relations orders and ensuring that those women actually obtain the benefits to which they are entitled through those orders.
Eligible recipients for the domestic-relations-order grants would be community organizations experienced in serving women and their financial and retirement needs. They would apply under Labor's requirements, and each grant would be at least $250,000.
the term eligible entity means a community-based organization with proven experience and expertise in serving women and the financial and retirement needs of women.
shall submit an application to the Secretary of Labor at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary of Labor may require.
The Secretary of Labor shall award grants under this section in amounts of not less than $250,000.
Recipients would have to develop programs helping low-income women or domestic violence survivors prepare, obtain, and put these orders into effect. Section 7 separately authorizes $100 million for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding year, without a stated final year; it does not itself appropriate that funding.
shall use the grant funds to develop programs to offer help to low-income women or survivors of domestic violence who need assistance in preparing, obtaining, and effectuating a qualified domestic relations order.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 and each succeeding fiscal year.
The supplied official-actions snapshot, updated July 7, 2026, records introduction in the House on March 11, 2025, and referral that day to the Education and Workforce, Financial Services, and Ways and Means committees. This snapshot does not establish any later action or enactment.
Source snapshot updated 2026-07-07T08:05:43Z.
2025-03-11: Introduced in House
2025-03-11: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-03-11. 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 rider was identified in the complete supplied introduced version. Its provisions address retirement security and related consumer education and assistance. This conclusion does not establish the absence of riders 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 earmark was identified in the complete supplied introduced version under the stated definition. This text-only conclusion does not establish the absence of earmarks in other versions or accompanying disclosure and committee materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No narrow preferential benefit warranting a finding was identified in the complete supplied introduced version. Broad program eligibility, generally applicable spousal protections, and routine plan-administration transition rules were not treated as targeted benefits. This conclusion is limited to this version.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Jul 7, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI