B 26-0463 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Judith Heumann Memorial Workers with Disabilities Act of 2025

The Judith Heumann Memorial Workers with Disabilities Act of 2025 would create a District of Columbia program allowing employed residents with disabilities to maintain Medicaid health coverage while earning income above current eligibility limits. It establishes a "Medicaid Buy-In" system where participants pay modest monthly premiums based on income relative to the Federal Poverty Level, avoiding the current dilemma where people earning over $1,305/month (single) or $1,763/month (two-person household) lose Medicaid coverage. Eligible individuals must be DC residents aged 16-64 with a federally defined disability, currently employed (with a temporary unemployment grace period), and enrolled through the Department of Health Care Finance. The program includes hardship exemptions for premium payments and allows "Independence Accounts" for savings toward self-sufficiency expenses, while participants receive standard Medicaid health services through participating providers.
Sub-Topics: Unemployment
Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Council Passage
Jun 2026
Signed into Law
Jul 2026
Introduced Nov 3, 2025 Signed Jul 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossment → Enrollment · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was finalized for signing into law (Enrollment), changing the status from a draft version. The most significant substantive change is a shift in the program's start date from 'within 6 months of the applicable date' to a fixed date of no earlier than October 1, 2027. Minor text edits were made to improve clarity and consistency, such as removing redundant references to the full Social Security Act title and standardizing the definition of 'District of Columbia' to 'District' in eligibility criteria.
Scope change
The program's effective date is now fixed to October 1, 2027, rather than being tied to a variable 6-month window from enactment.
TIMELINE

The establishment of the program is now set to occur no earlier than October 1, 2027, replacing the previous requirement to establish it within 6 months of the title's applicable date.

TECHNICAL

The definition of 'Disability' was streamlined by removing the specific citation of the Social Security Act section number, keeping only the citation to the U.S. Code.

The eligibility criteria were slightly edited to replace the phrase 'District of Columbia' with 'District' for brevity and consistency.

The application process section was edited to remove the requirement for applicants to submit their Social Security number as a separate document, likely as it is already required on the application form.

Floor votes · Council Jun 2, 2026

How they voted

13–0
Passed
Total votes 13
Jun 2, 2026
D Democratic11
11 Yea
100% Yea
I Independent2
2 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Amendments
1
Jun 2, 2026
Council · Passed
Council Vote: pass (13-0)
council
Jun 2, 2026
Introduced
Amendment (Henderson)
legislature
Apr 7, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Committee Mark-up of B26-0463 by the Health Committee
legislature
Nov 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Health with comments from the Committee on Facilities
legislature
Nov 3, 2025
Introduced
B26-0463 Introduced by Councilmember Henderson at Office of the Secretary
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Christina Henderson
Christina Henderson
IIndependent
DC
At-Large