Enact the American Dream Act

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. B. No. 810

2025-2026

Representative Williams

To
enact sections 113.65 and 5166.38 of the Revised Code
to
establish the American Dream Voluntary Transition Program as a
component of the Medicaid program and to designate this act the
American Dream Act.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
sections 113.65 and 5166.38 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as
follows:

Sec.
113.65.
(A)
As used in this section, "American dream voluntary transition
program" means the medicaid waiver component established under
section 5166.38 of the Revised Code.

(B)
The treasurer of state, in consultation with the medicaid director,
shall establish American dream savings accounts that may be utilized
by individuals participating in the American dream voluntary
transition program. All accounts shall be maintained in a financial
institution insured by the federal deposit insurance corporation
(FDIC).

(C)
Participants in phase two or phase three of the American dream
voluntary transition program shall deposit funds into an American
dream savings account in accordance with the program requirements
specified in section 5166.38 of the Revised Code and rules adopted by
the medicaid director. The treasurer of state shall track and verify
deposits and provide that information to the medicaid director on a
quarterly basis.

(D)
Upon completion of the program, a participant may use funds deposited
into an American dream savings account for any of the following
purposes:

(1)
Security deposits, housing down payments, or other similar payments
to secure housing;

(2)
The purchase of or down payment on a motor vehicle;

(3)
Education or job training;

(4)
Employment-related relocation;

(5)
Other workforce-related purposes.

(E)
The treasurer of state shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
this section. The rules shall include a mechanism by which the
treasurer of state may require the forfeiture of funds from an
American dream savings account that are utilized for a purpose not
described in division (D) of this section.

Sec.
5166.38.
(A)(1)
The medicaid director shall establish a medicaid waiver component in
accordance with this section under which certain individuals may
elect to transition from the medicaid program to private insurance
coverage. The component shall be known as the American dream
voluntary transition program.

(2)
The American dream voluntary transition program shall be a voluntary
program for medicaid recipients who are considered eligible for
participation by the department of medicaid under division (B) of
this section. A medicaid recipient's decision not to participate in
the program shall not affect the recipient's medicaid eligibility.

(B)
The department shall establish eligibility criteria for participation
in the American dream voluntary transition program. Any member of the
expansion eligibility group shall be eligible to participate in the
program. Participation by a member of the expansion eligibility group
satisfies that recipient's requirements to satisfy employment and
training requirements under the medicaid waiver component established
pursuant to section 5166.37 of the Revised Code or the community
engagement requirements required by section 1902(xx) of the "Social
Security Act," 42 U.S.C. 1396a(xx).

(C)(1)
The American dream voluntary transition program shall contain three
phases. Under phase one of the program, a medicaid recipient remains
eligible for the medicaid program for twelve months if the
recipient's income does not exceed two hundred fifty per cent of the
federal poverty line. The department or an entity under contract with
the department shall provide those participants with all of the
following:

(a)
Entrance orientation, including physical and mental capacity
screenings when indicated;

(b)
Workforce development exposure;

(c)
Career interest and aptitude assessments;

(d)
Individualized employment and transition plans;

(e)
Referral to the Ohiomeansjobs web site and workOhio web site;

(f)
Referral to other state or local workforce development programs.

(2)
A program participant whose income exceeds two hundred fifty per cent
but does not exceed three hundred per cent of the federal poverty
line shall be enrolled in phase two of the program. Under phase two,
a program participant remains eligible for the medicaid program for
twelve months if the participant satisfies both of the following
requirements:

(a)
The participant maintains employment.

(b)
The participant deposits an average of twenty-five per cent of the
participant's income that exceeds two hundred fifty per cent of the
federal poverty line into an American dream savings account
established by the treasurer of state under section 113.65 of the
Revised Code.

(3)
A program participant who participates in phase two of the program
for twelve months or has an income that exceeds three hundred per
cent of the federal poverty line shall be enrolled in phase three of
the program. Except as provided in division (C)(4) of this section
and subject to division (C)(5) of this section, under phase three of
the program, a participant is eligible for state-funded health
insurance premium and cost-sharing assistance for a period of twelve
months if the participant satisfies all of the following
requirements:

(a)
The participant maintains employment.

(b)
The participant deposits an average of twenty-five per cent of the
participant's income that exceeds two hundred fifty per cent of the
federal poverty line into an American dream savings account
established by the treasurer of state under section 113.65 of the
Revised Code.

(c)
The participant transitions from the medicaid program to a qualified
health plan as defined in section 1301 of the "Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act," 42 U.S.C. 18021, offered in
this state through an exchange created under that act.

(4)
A program participant who is enrolled in phase three of the program
is ineligible for state-funded health insurance premium and
cost-sharing assistance if the participant receives
employer-sponsored health insurance. The ineligibility period begins
on the date the participant becomes covered under an
employer-sponsored health insurance plan and concludes on the date
the coverage ends.

(5)
Notwithstanding the time limits specified in divisions (C)(1), (2),
and (3) of this section, no participant shall participate in the
American dream voluntary transition program for a period greater than
twenty-four months, regardless of whether the participant has
completed all three phases of the program.

(D)
The medicaid director shall coordinate with the director of job and
family services, the director of development, and the treasurer of
state as necessary to implement the American dream voluntary
transition program. The medicaid director shall enter into all
necessary interagency agreements and establish any necessary
reporting, verification, and compliance systems to implement this
section.

(E)
The medicaid director shall prepare and submit an annual report to
the general assembly in accordance with section 101.68 of the Revised
Code regarding the American dream voluntary transition program. The
report shall include all of the following:

(1)
The number of participants in the program, including employment
outcomes for participants, income growth, and transitions to private
insurance coverage;

(2)
The number of participants who are no longer enrolled in the medicaid
program;

(3)
Account balances and asset development of program participants'
American dream savings accounts;

(4)
The fiscal impact of the program;

(5)
Any other information the director considers relevant concerning the
program.

(F)
The medicaid director shall adopt rules authorized under section
5166.02 of the Revised Code as necessary to implement this section.

Section
2.
This
act shall be known as the American Dream Act.