Thomas Suozzi (D-NY)
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 185) to advance responsible policies.
A Democratic resolution with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
A House resolution is the House speaking for itself: stating a position, honouring someone, or setting its own rules. Adopting it is the whole process. Once the House agrees to it, it is officially the House's word; it is not a law, so the Senate and the President have no part in it.
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the HOPE Act, aims to extend and modify premium tax credits for qualified health plans. It updates the rules for premium assistance amounts for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and before January 1, 2028. The legislation also increases the household income limit for certain premium tax credits. Additionally, it implements new guardrails to prevent fraud in health insurance exchanges by targeting agents and brokers. These measures include new civil and criminal penalties for those providing false information. Finally, the bill extends the annual open enrollment period for plan year 26.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +7
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill implements strict fraud prevention measures and verification processes to protect individuals during health insurance enrollment.
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill expands premium assistance for households with incomes up to 935 percent of the poverty line.
- Scored +6
Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act?
The bill extends and modifies premium tax credits and enhances fraud prevention within the ACA framework.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Premium Assistance: The bill modifies the rules for premium assistance amounts for taxable years between 2026 and 2028, providing specific premium percentages based on household income tiers (Section 2(a)).
-
Expanded Credit Eligibility: The bill allows premium tax credits to be applied to taxpayers whose household income exceeds 400 percent of the poverty line, up to 935 percent (Section 2(b)).
-
Fraud Prevention and Consumer Protections: New verification processes for enrollments help ensure that individuals have consented to changes in coverage (Section 3(a)(2)).
-
Heightened Accountability for Professionals: The bill establishes civil penalties of up to $50,000 for agents or brokers who negligently provide incorrect information and penalties of up to $200,000 for those who knowingly provide false or fraudulent information (Section 3(a)(1)).
-
Criminal Deterrents: Agents or brokers who knowingly and willfully provide false or fraudulent information as part of an enrollment application can face fines and up to 10 years in prison (Section 3(a)(1)).
-
Protection of Coverage Continuity: The Secretary is required to ensure that the enrollment verification process prioritizes continuity of coverage and care, specifically by not disenrolling individuals without their consent (Section 3(a)(2)(C)).
-
Improved Transparency: Exchanges must notify individuals of the amount of their premium tax credits prior to enrollment (Section 3(d)).
-
Extended Enrollment Window: The annual open enrollment period for plan year 2026 is extended to run from November 1, 2025, through May 15, 2026 (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Increased Penalties for Agents/Brokers: Agents and brokers face significant financial and legal risks, including civil penalties for negligence and potential imprisonment for willful fraud (Section 3(a)(1)).
-
Strict Marketing Requirements: Marketing organizations and agents must meet specific criteria, including a standard of conduct to act in the best interests of the enrollee and requirements to submit marketing materials for review (Section 3(a)(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill expands premium assistance for households with incomes up to 935 percent of the poverty line. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill increases the percentage of premium assistance for many middle-income tiers. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Improved fraud prevention and continuity of care protections benefit all vulnerable populations, including those with disabilities. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill includes mechanisms to identify and remove deceased individuals from exchange plans, ensuring accuracy in coverage.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill implements strict fraud prevention measures and verification processes to protect individuals during health insurance enrollment. Does this cut taxes for middle-income families? — The bill increases premium tax credits for many income tiers, reducing the effective cost of health insurance for middle-income families. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By providing more premium assistance, the bill may support consumer spending through lower healthcare costs.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires exchanges to notify individuals of their tax credit amounts prior to enrollment, increasing transparency. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill adds verification processes to ensure individuals have consented to coverage changes, protecting against unauthorized enrollment.
- Healthcare
- Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act? — The bill extends and modifies premium tax credits and enhances fraud prevention within the ACA framework.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill increases premium assistance for those at various income levels, which helps reduce the financial burden of healthcare.
- 11/20/2025
- Submitted in House
- Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Don BaconRepublican · Nebraska