Held at the desk.
This bill amends Section 205(r) of the Social Security Act to improve data sharing between the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Do Not Pay working system, require cooperative agreements covering proportional state death-data costs, and require SSA to use a "clear and convincing" evidence standard before recording a death in records provided under the section.
It also requires SSA to notify any cooperating agency if an individual was incorrectly identified as deceased.
The amendments take effect December 27, 2026.
Narrow, administrative bill with modest fiscal footprints and compromise features; lacks major opposition drivers but depends on cost and agency cooperation.
How solid the drafting looks.
Evidentiary standard: accuracy vs. speedy fraud prevention
Evidentiary standard: accuracy vs. speedy fraud prevention
Likely supportive overall because the bill aims to stop improper payments while adding stronger accuracy safeguards to prevent wrongful death records.
It balances anti-waste measures with a higher evidentiary standard and a notification requirement for errors.
Generally favorable but pragmatic: sees improved data sharing and error-notification as efficient anti-waste measures, while being cautious about cost allocation, administrative burden, and potential slowdowns from the new evidentiary standard.
Supportive of better anti-fraud coordination and reducing improper payments, but concerned the "clear and convincing" standard raises the bar and could hamper prompt fraud prevention.
Prefers efficiency and taxpayer protection without procedural obstacles.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Narrow, administrative bill with modest fiscal footprints and compromise features; lacks major opposition drivers but depends on cost and agency cooperation.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Evidentiary standard: accuracy vs. speedy fraud prevention
Narrow, administrative bill with modest fiscal footprints and compromise features; lacks major opposition drivers but depends on cost and a…
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