Legislation
Proposals
Legislative Proposals for Basic Income
Below are proposals in support of any form or basic income. Please contact us if you become aware of others at any level of government
Summary of H.R. 6236 — The BOOST Act
A small correction: H.R. 6236 is officially titled the “BOOST Act of 2025,” although it remains pending in the 2025–2026 Congress. It was introduced by Representative Rashida Tlaib on November 20, 2025.
The bill would establish a modest, nearly universal basic-income program for working-age adults.
What it would provide
$250 per month—$3,000 per year—to each eligible adult.
Eligibility would extend from age 19 through 67.
There would be no income test and no work requirement.
Recipients would have to reside in the United States and be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or “qualified alien” under federal law.
Individuals would have to apply through the Social Security Administration and provide a Social Security or taxpayer-identification number.
The $250 monthly payment would be adjusted for inflation beginning after 2026. (CivicGate)
Effect on taxes and other benefits
BOOST payments would not be treated as taxable income. They also could not be counted as income or resources when determining eligibility or benefit amounts under federal programs—or under state and local programs receiving federal funding. Thus, receiving BOOST would not by itself reduce SNAP, Medicaid, housing assistance, SSI, or similar benefits covered by this protection. (CivicGate)
How the bill would be financed
The legislation would impose an additional federal income tax equal to 2.5% of adjusted gross income above:
$30,000 for single and other non-joint filers
$60,000 for married couples filing jointly
Those thresholds would be adjusted for inflation after 2026. Tax credits and deductions could not be used to offset this supplemental tax. (CivicGate)
Because everyone eligible would receive the payment while higher-income households would repay some or all of it through the supplemental tax, the program is universal on the payment side but progressive on a net basis. For example:
Tax return | Annual BOOST payment | Approximate break-even AGI |
Single eligible adult | $3,000 | $150,000 |
Couple with two eligible adults | $6,000 | $300,000 |
Below those incomes, recipients would generally receive more from BOOST than they paid through its supplemental tax; above them, they would generally be net contributors. These examples assume a full year of eligibility and do not include inflation adjustments.
Administration
The bill would create an Office of Universal Adult Assistance within the Social Security Administration. It would process applications, make payments, prevent fraud, conduct public outreach, maintain records, and submit annual reports to Congress. (CivicGate)
Current status
As of September 22, 2026, H.R. 6236 has only been introduced and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. It has not received a committee vote, passed either chamber, or become law. Although its text says payments and the supplemental tax would begin in 2026, those dates have no practical effect unless Congress passes the bill; they would probably need to be revised if it advanced later. (CivicGate)
In short, the BOOST Act is a limited UBI proposal: it provides unconditional monthly cash to nearly all working-age adults, preserves existing benefits, and recovers the payment gradually from higher-income households through the tax system. It is less comprehensive than a full UBI because it excludes children and adults aged 68 and older.