S. 4440 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Apr 29, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryMakes clinical trials easier to join and complete
This bill creates grant funding to help recruit people from underrepresented communities like rural and tribal areas into clinical trials. It also removes legal barriers that prevented covering participants' costs, like travel or co-payments, and allows the government to provide free health technology to help people participate. Additionally, the first $2,000 someone earns from participating in a clinical trial would be tax-free.
How it affects you
If you live in a rural or tribal area, you may see more recruitment efforts to join clinical trials testing new treatments. If you do participate in a clinical trial, you could have your expenses covered more easily, and you won't owe taxes on up to $2,000 of any money you receive for participating.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Apr 29, 2026)
Clinical Trial Modernization Act
This bill authorizes a grant program and provides certain exemptions to support the participation of individuals in clinical trials.
Specifically, the bill authorizes a grant program to support outreach, education, and recruitment efforts for clinical trials that may benefit certain underrepresented populations or communities in need, such as rural or tribal areas.
The bill also exempts from anti-kickback laws for federal health care programs (1) remuneration that is offered to cover participants' expenses to participate in clinical trials, (2) the provision of free digital health technologies to support participation of underrepresented populations in clinical trials, and (3) payment for participants' cost-sharing obligations in relation to clinical trials.
Finally, the bill exempts up to $2,000 in remuneration that is received for participating in a clinical trial from income tax.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionS. 4440
A BILL
Clinical Trial Modernization Act
Sponsor: Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) · Introduced Apr 29, 2026 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 29, 2026: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.”
Sections
Sections · 7
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2DefinitionNo change
- Sec. 3Grants to encourage clinical trial enrollment by underrepresented populationsNo change
- Sec. 4Encouragement of clinical trial participation by underrepresented populations through payment of study participant clinical trial expenses and provision of digital health technologiesNo change
- Sec. 5Encouragement of clinical trial accessibility through support of clinical trial cost-sharingNo change
- Sec. 6Exclusion from gross income for remuneration provided by sponsors of approved clinical trials to participantsNo change
- Sec. 7Rule of constructionNo change