Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
The bill amends ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code to require spousal written consent for most distributions from defined contribution retirement plans, with limited exceptions and administrative rules. It adds a private right of action, mandates a CFPB-link disclosure by retirement product sellers, and authorizes two grant programs—financial literacy for women and assistance obtaining qualified domestic relations orders—each funded at $100 million annually.
Liberals emphasize enhanced protections for women’s retirement security
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill presents well-developed statutory language effecting substantive changes to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code with clear mechanisms for spousal consent and comprehensive coordination with existing law.
The bill amends ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code to require spousal written consent for most distributions from defined contribution retirement plans, with limited exceptions and administrative rules.
It adds a private right of action, mandates a CFPB-link disclosure by retirement product sellers, and authorizes two grant programs—financial literacy for women and assistance obtaining qualified domestic relations orders—each funded at $100 million annually.
Substantive but narrowly focused; plausible coalition exists, yet compliance costs, industry opposition, and annual appropriations reduce chances.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill presents well-developed statutory language effecting substantive changes to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code with clear mechanisms for spousal consent and comprehensive coordination with existing law. The additions for consumer information and grant programs are specified at a high level but rely on agency rulemaking and appropriations to fill operational detail.
Liberals emphasize enhanced protections for women’s retirement security
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Liberals emphasize enhanced protections for women’s retirement security
Likely supportive; views the bill as correcting a gendered retirement vulnerability by extending spousal protections to defined contribution plans.
Appreciates added funding for financial literacy and domestic-violence survivor assistance that target women’s retirement security.
Generally favorable but cautious; recognizes the goal of protecting spouses while worrying about cost, administrative complexity, and potential unintended consequences.
Would seek clearer regulatory guidance and streamlined implementation to limit burdens.
Likely opposed; sees the bill as federal intrusion into private retirement accounts and an added regulatory and liability burden on employers and plans.
Views mandated spousal consent as an erosion of individual account autonomy.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Substantive but narrowly focused; plausible coalition exists, yet compliance costs, industry opposition, and annual appropriations reduce chances.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Liberals emphasize enhanced protections for women’s retirement security
Substantive but narrowly focused; plausible coalition exists, yet compliance costs, industry opposition, and annual appropriations reduce c…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill presents well-developed statutory language effecting substantive changes to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code with clear mechanisms for spousal consent and comprehe…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.