Bill > HR3420

This bill, known as the Words Matter Act of 2025, systematically removes the terms "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" from numerous federal laws and replaces them with more respectful language such as "intellectual disability" or "individuals with intellectual disabilities". The bill covers an extensive range of federal statutes across multiple domains, including medical care, housing, criminal justice, health care programs, social services, education, and civil rights. The changes span laws related to contracts, mortgage insurance, sentencing guidelines, healthcare definitions, grant programs, and various social service provisions. Importantly, the bill includes a rule of construction explicitly stating that these linguistic changes are not intended to alter the underlying legal definitions, eligibility requirements, rights, or responsibilities of the affected programs. Additionally, the bill requires federal agencies to clarify in future regulations that "intellectual disability" was formerly termed "mental retardation" to ensure historical context and understanding. The legislation represents a significant effort to update federal language to be more person-first and sensitive, reflecting evolving societal attitudes toward individuals with disabilities.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3420/all-info