WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare › Chapter 7

42 U.S.C. 1301: Definitions

Created in 1958 by Public Law 85-840. Changed by 19 later laws. 1 bill in this Congress would change it.

6 other sections of the Code cite this one, including 38 U.S.C. 1703, 42 U.S.C. 1012, 42 U.S.C. 1320a–7m, 42 U.S.C. 1395x, 42 U.S.C. 1396d.

2 parts of federal rules cite it as their authority, written by Office of Family Assistance (Assistance Programs), Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services (1), Office of Child Support Services, Administration of Families and Services, Department of Health and Human Services (1).

This Congress

  • H.R. 9877 Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026 · introduced · would change (a), 1150D

How it got here

1997

  • Pub. L. 105–33 substituted "XIX, and XXI" for "and XIX" and "subchapters XIX and XXI" for "subchapter XIX". (Balanced Budget Act of 1997) Law text · (a)

1994

  • Pub. L. 103–296 added par. (10). · (a)

1988

  • Pub. L. 100–485 amended last sentence generally. Prior to amendment, last sentence read as follows: "Such term when used in part B of subchapter IV of this chapter also includes American Samoa." · (a)

1987

  • Pub. L. 100–203, §9135(a)(1), inserted "American Samoa," after "Guam,". · (a)
  • Pub. L. 100–203, §9135(b)(1), inserted at end "Such term when used in part B of subchapter IV of this chapter also includes American Samoa." · (a)

1986

  • Pub. L. 99–514, §1883(c)(1), realigned margins of pars. (3) to (5). · (a)
  • Pub. L. 99–514, §1895(c)(6), amended directory language of Pub. L. 99–272, §9528(a), and did not involve any change in text. See note below. · (a)
  • Pub. L. 99–272, §9528(a), as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, §1895(c)(6), struck out "even-numbered" after "November 30 of each" and substituted "for each of the four quarters" for "for each of the eight quarters". · (a)
  • Pub. L. 99–514, §2, substituted "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" for "Internal Revenue Code of 1954" in closing provisions. · (a)

1984

  • Pub. L. 98–369, §2663(j)(1), substituted "means the Secretary of Health and Human Services" for "means the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare". · (a)
  • Pub. L. 98–369, §2663(e)(1), realigned margins of pars. (8) and (9). · (a), (9)

1982

  • Pub. L. 97–248, §136(a), inserted "and American Samoa" after "includes the Northern Mariana Islands". · (a)
  • Pub. L. 97–248, §160(c), substituted "Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands" for "American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands". · (a)

1981

  • Pub. L. 97–35, §§2162(a)(1), 2352(b), substituted "American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and" for "American Samoa and" and inserted provisions that "State" when used in subchapter XIX of this chapter also includes the Northern Mariana Islands and when used in subchapter XX o… · (a)
  • Pub. L. 97–35, §2193(c)(2), substituted "subchapters XVIII, and XIX" for "subchapters V, XVIII, and XIX". · (a)

1977

  • Pub. L. 95–142, §5(l)(2), which directed that second sentence of par. (1) be amended by inserting provision that "State" when used in part B of this subchapter also includes American Samoa and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, was executed by inserting that provision to th… · (a)
  • Pub. L. 95–142, §5(c)(2), added par. (9). · (a)

1976

  • Pub. L. 94–566 inserted provision that "State", when used in subchapters III, IX, and XII of this chapter, also includes the Virgin Islands. · (a)
  • Pub. L. 94–273 substituted "October" for "July" in two places and "November 30" for "August 31". · (a)

1973

  • Pub. L. 93–233 struck out in first sentence references to subchapters I, X, XIV, and XVI of this chapter and inserted third sentence respecting the case of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. · (a)

1972

  • Pub. L. 92–603 extended benefits of subchapter V of this chapter to American Samoa and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. · (a)

1965

  • Pub. L. 89–97 included subchapter XIX of this chapter. · (a)

1962

  • Pub. L. 87–543, §153(a), included in enumeration subchapters XI and XVI of this chapter. · (a)
  • Pub. L. 87–543, §153(b), struck out ", the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" after "the States,". · (a)

1960

  • Pub. L. 86–778 substituted "The term 'State', except where otherwise provided, includes the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" for "The term 'State' includes Hawaii, and the District of Columbia", and "includes the Virgin Islands and Guam" for "includes Puerto… · (a)
  • Pub. L. 86–624, §30(d)(1), struck out "Hawaii, and" before "the District of Columbia". · (a)
  • Pub. L. 86–778 substituted "means, except where otherwise provided, the States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" for "means the States, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia". · (a)
  • Pub. L. 86–624, §30(d)(2), struck out ", Hawaii," before "and the District of Columbia". · (a)
  • Pub. L. 86–624, §30(a)(1), (2), substituted "per capita income of the United States" for "per capita income of the continental United States (including Alaska)", and struck out provisions which prescribed the Federal percentage for Hawaii as 50 per centum. · (a)
  • Pub. L. 86–624, §30(a)(1), substituted "United States" for "continental United States (including Alaska)". · (a)
  • Pub. L. 86–624, §30(a)(3), added subpars. (C) and (D). · (a), (D)

1959

  • Pub. L. 86–70, §32(d)(1), substituted "Hawaii and" for "Alaska, Hawaii, and". · (a)
  • Pub. L. 86–70, §32(d)(2), struck out "Alaska," before "Hawaii". · (a)
  • Pub. L. 86–70, §32(a), substituted "(including Alaska)" for "(excluding Alaska)" in two places, and "50 per centum for Hawaii" for "50 per centum for Alaska and Hawaii". · (a)

1958

  • Pub. L. 85–840, §506, included Guam within definition of "State" when used in subchapters I, IV, V, VII, X, and XIV of this chapter. · (a)
  • Pub. L. 85–840, §505, added par. (8). · (a)

Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.