PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

Canadian Snowbirds Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 12, 2018

Canadian Snowbirds Act

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to admit into the United States as a nonimmigrant visitor for a period not to exceed 240 days during any single 365-day period a Canadian citizen who: (1) is at least 50 years old; (2) maintains a Canadian residence and owns a U.S. residence or has rented U.S. accommodations for the duration of such stay; (3) is not inadmissible or deportable; (4) will not work in the United States other than for a non U.S.-based person or entity that the person worked for in Canada; and (5) will not seek any federal means tested public benefit for five years, or any federal tax credits for child care, earned income, first time homebuyers, health insurance, or health care plans.

The spouse of such person may be admitted under the same terms except that he or she is not required to separately satisfy the residence/housing requirements.

DHS shall have sole and unreviewable discretion to withhold or withdraw admission of such an alien.

The bill grants a person so admitted nonresident alien tax status.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL] · D–FL

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

  2. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.3204 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.3204 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.3204 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.3204 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources