Guardianship Bill of Rights Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4247 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4247 To establish rights for people being considered for and in protective arrangements, including guardianships and conservatorships, or other arrangements, to provide decision supports. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 26, 2026 Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Mr. Sanders, and Mr. Fetterman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To establish rights for people being considered for and in protective arrangements, including guardianships and conservatorships, or other arrangements, to provide decision supports. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Guardianship Bill of Rights Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following: (1) At least 1,300,000 people in the United States are in some type of guardianship or other protective arrangement. (2) A majority of guardianships are plenary and strip almost all rights from individuals, with the restoration of rights being very rare. (3) Guardianship can have grave implications limiting the liberty of people in such an arrangement. (4) Overbroad, restrictive, and unnecessary guardianships, conservatorships, and other protective arrangements can dramatically curtail the rights of older adults and persons with disabilities. (5) A person who is being considered for a protective arrangement, or is in a protective arrangement, including an individual in a guardianship or conservatorship, has a set of fundamental rights including-- (A) a right, prior to the imposition of a protect