Poverty Line Act of 2025
Current understanding
The Poverty Line Act of 2025 (introduced) would require HHS to revise the federal poverty guidelines methodology, replacing the current CPI-adjusted Census threshold with regional calculations based on household expenditures, housing costs, and health insurance costs. Because federal poverty guidelines drive eligibility thresholds for Medicaid, CHIP, ACA subsidies, and numerous other programs, a methodology change would ripple across benefit determinations nationwide. Status: introduced.