Words Matter Act of 2024

The Words Matter Act of 2024 updates federal law to replace outdated terms like "mental retardation" and "mentally retarded" with "intellectual disability" and "individuals with intellectual disabilities" across numerous statutes. It affects healthcare programs (including Medicare, Medicaid, and mental health courts), education (such as school lunch programs), and social services by revising language in over 30 provisions of federal law. The bill explicitly states this terminology change does not alter eligibility, coverage, rights, or service requirements for individuals with intellectual disabilities. This update aligns federal language with current respectful terminology while maintaining existing program structures and benefits.