HR 5235 United States House · 119th Congress

Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act of 2025

Summary

Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act This bill prohibits federal contract bid solicitations for contractor personnel from including minimum educational requirements unless the contracting officer justifies the requirements. The prohibition applies to educational requirements that may be met through education alone, education or experience, or a combination of education and experience. The bill also requires the Office of Management and Budget to issue implementing guidance to federal agencies, including instructions for contracting officers that encourage using alternatives to education requirements.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Aug 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Sep 9, 2025 Last action Aug 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 2 edits · Feb 23, 2026

MINOR

The Engrossed version of HR 5235 makes two changes from the Introduced version: it adds 'of 2025' to the short title and expands the definition of 'education' to include institutions approved by the District of Columbia's education authority, not just state education authorities. The D.C. addition is a substantive fix that ensures colleges and universities in Washington, D.C. are properly covered by the bill's definitions.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'education' now includes institutions approved by the appropriate education authority of the District of Columbia, not just state education authorities. This closes a gap that could have excluded D.C.-based colleges and universities from qualifying under the bill.

TECHNICAL

The short title was updated to include 'of 2025' for standard legislative naming convention.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Aug 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Introduced

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2247)

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2247)

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Introduced

Mr. Timmons moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

lower

Dec 2, 2025

Introduced

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 44 - 0.

lower

Dec 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Sep 9, 2025

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

lower

Sep 9, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors