H.R. 2851: Michelle's Law

110th Congress · introduced 2007-06-25 · Health · Latest: Became Public Law No: 110-381.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2007-06-25 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Hodes, Paul W. [D-NH-2] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 110-381. (final step reached)
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Michelle's Law

Plain summary

Michelle's Law - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a group health plan from terminating coverage of a dependent child due to a medically necessary leave of absence from, or any other change in enrollment at, a postsecondary education institution that commences while such child is suffering from a serious illness or injury and that causes such child to lose student status for purposes of coverage under the plan, before the earlier of: (1) one year after the first day of the medically necessary leave of absence; or (2) the date on which such coverage would otherwise terminate under the terms of the plan. Requires written certification by the child's treating physician. Directs group health plans to include notice of the terms of this Act with any notice regarding a requirement for certification of student status for coverage under the plan. Provides that coverage under this Act continues in the manner in which the participant or beneficiary is covered under the plan changes so long as the change of coverage continues to provide coverage of beneficiaries as dependent children. Applies such requirement to coverage offered in the individual market.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Michelle's Law

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Hodes, Paul W. [D-NH-2] · 150 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2851, Michelle's Law (2008-07-28); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2851, Michelle's Law (2008-07-28)

Cosponsors on this site

Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), John B. Larson (D-CT), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Diana DeGette (D-CO) and 90 more.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-110hr2851.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/110/hr>

Record fed-us-cong110-hr2851 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110