Living Donor Protection Act of 2025
Congress Proposes Protections to Stop Insurance Companies from Penalizing Living Organ Donors
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill stops insurance companies from treating living organ donors differently. It would be illegal for companies to deny life, disability, or long-term care insurance or charge higher monthly payments just because someone donated an organ like a kidney or part of their liver.
- It protects workers' jobs while they recover from surgery. The bill clarifies that organ donation counts as a serious health condition under the Family and Medical Leave Act, meaning most employees can take time off to donate without the fear of being fired.
- The Department of Health and Human Services would be required to update public websites and materials. These updates will explain the risks and benefits of donation and make sure people know about these new legal protections so they aren't afraid to help save a life.
- Currently, some people hesitate to become donors because they worry it will make their insurance too expensive or that they cannot afford to take time off work. This bill aims to remove those financial and professional barriers to encourage more life-saving donations.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Small business owners who are living organ donors gain insurance protections, but those who employ 50+ workers must also accommodate employees taking FMLA leave for organ donation. The FMLA clarification could mean managing temporary absences for employees who donate organs, though this would be relatively rare. Overall impact is minimal given how few employees at any given business would be donors.
Programs
Disabilities
Milestones
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 352.
The bill is now on the schedule for the full chamber to consider. It's in line for debate and a vote.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
The committee approved this bill and is sending it to the full chamber for a vote. This is a significant step — most bills never get this far.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articlesSenate HELP Committee schedules vote on education and health care bills
The Senate HELP Committee has scheduled a markup for February 26, 2026, to consider several bills, including S. 1552, the Living Donor Protection Act of 2025. The bill aims to prohibit insurance discrimination against organ donors and clarify that FMLA covers recovery time for donation surgery.
Bipartisan lawmakers reintroduce Living Donor Protection Act to remove barriers to organ donation
Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Tom Cotton, along with Representatives Jerrold Nadler and Don Bacon, reintroduced the Living Donor Protection Act. The legislation seeks to end insurance discrimination against living donors and codify job protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Living Donor Protection Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(45)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.