Sponsors (4)
The bill strengthens recognition, targeting, and state-level support for unpaid family caregivers and funds research to improve caregiver programs, while narrowing some eligibility (excluding paid caregivers and focusing respite on older recipients) and increasing federal research spending.
State governments will be required to provide coordinated systems of support services for family caregivers, likely expanding availability and coordination of caregiver services at the state level.
Informal family caregivers (unpaid in‑home and community caregivers) will have clearer and broader recognition under federal law, increasing the likelihood they qualify for caregiver programs and supports.
Older relative caregivers (people 55+ living with and primarily caring for a child or person with a disability) will be recognized as a distinct category, enabling more targeted supports, program design, and outreach for this group.
Caregivers of younger people with disabilities may lose access or see reduced access to respite and supplemental services because the bill limits those supports to caregivers of older care recipients.
Households that rely on paid or professionally contracted caregivers may be excluded from certain 'family caregiver' supports because paid/professional caregivers are explicitly excluded from the definition.
Taxpayers and federal budget priorities will bear $150 million in new research spending over five years, which may require offsets or draw scrutiny over competing budget needs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes annual federal research funding (FY2026–2030) on family caregivers, expands the legal definitions of family and older relative caregivers, and updates Older Americans Act program language.
Provides dedicated federal research funding for family caregiving and changes who counts as a "family caregiver" under the Older Americans Act. It authorizes $30 million per year for FY2026–FY2030 for research and evaluation on family caregivers, creates a new legal category for "older relative caregiver" (age 55+ who lives with and primarily cares for a child or individual with a disability), and updates Older Americans Act program language so state programs and services reflect the expanded definitions.
Introduced November 20, 2025 by Edward John Markey · Last progress November 20, 2025