The Guardianship Bill of Rights Act of 2026 establishes federal protections for older adults and people with disabilities under guardianship or similar court-ordered arrangements. The bill creates a 30-member council within the Department of Health and Human Services to develop standards protecting fundamental rights such as voting, marriage, financial decisions, and religious practice, with the council including individuals currently under guardianship, family members, lawyers, judges, and disability advocates. The bill also establishes a new $50 million annual federal grant program to state protection and advocacy systems, enabling them to provide legal representation, investigate abuse, and promote less restrictive alternatives like supported decision-making—an arrangement where individuals retain decision-making authority while receiving help understanding their options. These protections apply to both plenary guardianships that strip nearly all rights and limited guardianships that restrict only specific decisions, recognizing that people need varying levels of decision-making support. The council members will serve three-year terms and the advocacy grant funds are explicitly prohibited from being used to establish or maintain guardianships, ensuring the law focuses on protecting individual rights and promoting alternatives to full guardianship.
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