H.R. 9401

Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2026

Sponsor: Steve Cohen

82 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2026

This bill prohibits government entities and insurance providers from denying community-based services to individuals with disabilities that require long-term service or support that would enable such individuals to live in the community and lead an independent life.

Specifically, these entities may not discriminate against such individuals in the provision of community-based services by such actions as imposing prohibited eligibility criteria, cost caps, or waiting lists or failing to provide a specific community-based service. Additionally, community-based services must be offered to individuals with such disabilities prior to institutionalization. Institutionalized individuals must be notified regularly of community-based alternatives.

The bill requires the Department of Justice to issue regulations requiring government entities and insurance providers to offer community-based long-term services to individuals with such disabilities who would otherwise qualify for institutional placement. Government entities must ensure sufficient availability of affordable, accessible, and integrated housing that is not a disability-specific residential setting or a setting where services are tied to tenancy.

Regulations shall also (1) require government entities and insurance providers to perform self-evaluation on current services, policies, and practices and concerning compliance with requirements of this bill; and (2) require government entities to submit a transition plan.

The bill allows civil actions by individuals subjected to, or about to be subjected to, a violation of its requirements.

Text of the bill

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Sec. 2. Purposes

The purposes of this Act are—

(1) to clarify and strengthen the integration mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, held by the Supreme Court in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999) in a manner that accelerates and improves State compliance;

(2) to affirm that every individual who is eligible for long-term services and supports has a federally protected right to be integrated into that individual’s community and receive community-based long-term services and supports;

(3) to ensure that States and LTSS insurance providers provide long-term services and supports to individuals with disabilities in a manner that allows individuals with disabilities to live in the most integrated setting, including the individual’s own home;

(4) to ensure that individuals with disabilities have maximum control over the services and supports that allow them to live in the community;

(5) to ensure that long-term services and supports are provided in a manner that allows individuals with disabilities to lead an independent life;

(6) to establish a comprehensive planning requirement that includes enforceable, measurable objectives that are designed to transition individuals with all types of disabilities at all ages out of institutions and into the most integrated setting, if they choose that transition; and

(7) to identify and address disparities in the provision of community-based long-term services and supports.