H.R. 3420 — Words Matter Act of 2025

This section replaces outdated terminology—"mental retardation," "mentally retarded," and similar phrases—with "intellectual disability," "individuals with intellectual disabilities," and equivalent person-first language in multiple federal laws, as follows: (1) medical care contracts for military spouses and children (10 U.S.C. §1079); (2) mortgage insurance for nursing homes, intermediate care facilities, and board and care homes (12 U.S.C. §1715w); (3) federal death sentences (18 U.S.C. §3596); (4)-(5) Indian Health Care Improvement Act definitions and programs (25 U.S.C. §§1603, 1665); (6)-(7) substance abuse treatment grants and mental health courts under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (34 U.S.C. §§10471, 10472); (8) federal property donations (40 U.S.C. §549); (9) training for direct care workers (42 U.S.C. §293k–1); (10)-(11) health care fraud penalties and long-term care provisions (42 U.S.C. §§1320a–7b, 1320a–7l); (12) planning grants to address developmental disabilities needs (42 U.S.C. ch. 7, subch. XVII); (13) Medicare skilled nursing facility requirements (42 U.S.C. §1395i–3); and (14) Medicaid services, including intermediate care facilities (42 U.S.C. ch. 7, subch. XIX).

This section directs federal agencies, for regulations implementing provisions amended by this Act, to treat references to "mental retardation," "the mentally retarded," or "individuals who are mentally retarded" as references to "an intellectual disability" or "individuals with intellectual disabilities," respectively, until the regulations are amended. Upon amendment, agencies must ensure the regulations state that "an intellectual disability" was formerly termed "mental retardation" and "individuals with intellectual disabilities" were formerly termed "the mentally retarded" or "individuals who are mentally retarded."

This section establishes a rule of construction providing that the Act's amendments to federal law removing the terms "mentally retarded" and "mental retardation" do not (1) change the coverage, eligibility, rights, responsibilities, or definitions referred to in the amended provisions; or (2) compel states to change terminology in state laws for individuals covered by a provision amended by this Act.