The Dream Act and Promise Act are closer to a vote in Congress today than they have been in years. In fact, according to the official record kept by the Office of the Clerk of the House, only one signature is missing to force that vote. However, they are still not law. This article explains in detail what each proposal does, who could generally benefit, and exactly where they stand in the legislative process today, September 8, 2026.
In Brief: Dream Act and Promise Act Today
- They are not two separate bills. They are two titles inside the same House bill, H.R. 1589, officially named the "American Dream and Promise Act of 2025."
- They are one signature away from forcing a vote. A discharge petition to bring the bill to the House floor has 217 of the 218 signatures it needs.
- The Senate has its own, narrower version. Instead, the Senate has only introduced a standalone "Dream Act," with no TPS component.
- Keep this in mind: even if the House votes yes, the Senate and the president's signature would still be needed for this to become law.
- Dream Act versions have been introduced in Congress repeatedly since 2001 without becoming law.
What Exactly Are the Dream Act and the Promise Act?
In the House of Representatives, the Dream Act and the Promise Act are not two separate bills. They are Title I and Title II of the same bill: H.R. 1589, the "American Dream and Promise Act of 2025." Representative Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat from Texas, introduced it on February 26, 2025.
Title I is called the "Dream Act of 2025" and targets people who arrived in the United States as minors. Title II is called the "American Promise Act of 2025" and targets people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). A third title, Title III, sets general rules that apply to both groups, such as background checks.
Important: the bill already has 323 cosponsors in the House. Of those, 322 are Democrats. Also, one is a Republican, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
Who Could Qualify Under Title I, the Dream Act?
According to the bill's text, a person would generally qualify if they arrived in the United States before turning 19. They would also need to show continuous physical presence in the country since January 1, 2021. In addition, they would need to be in school, have graduated, or be serving or have served in the military. Finally, they would need a clean record before the law.
However, if the bill passed exactly as written, it would not grant permanent residence right away. It would first grant conditional permanent resident status for 10 years. Only after maintaining that status could a person apply to remove the condition. And only after that could they eventually apply for citizenship through the normal naturalization process.
Who Could Qualify Under Title II, the Promise Act?
Title II would let the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Justice grant permanent residence to people who held, or who were eligible for, TPS or Deferred Enforced Departure status on specific dates set by the bill. According to immigration policy organizations, this could benefit a significant share of the roughly 1.3 million people who held TPS as of March 2025, although not everyone would qualify, since the bill also sets its own requirements and cutoff dates.
Important: not every person with TPS or DED would automatically qualify. The cutoff date and the other requirements the bill sets determine who is included, and that is exactly the kind of thing worth reviewing case by case if this bill were ever to pass.
What Is Happening With the Dream Act and Promise Act in the Senate?
In the Senate, the story is different. There, only a standalone bill called the "Dream Act of 2025" (S. 3348) has been introduced, with no equivalent part for TPS. Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, introduced it on December 4, 2025, with Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, as an original cosponsor. The bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee that same day, and as of this publication, it has seen no further action.
This matters because, even if the House passes the full package with both parts, the Senate does not yet have a version on the table that also includes the TPS piece.
How Close Are the Dream Act and Promise Act to Becoming Law?
The House of Representatives has a mechanism called a discharge petition, which forces a floor vote without going through the Rules Committee. Representative Garcia filed this petition, identified as No. 25, on July 20, 2026.
| Detail | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Current signatures | 217 of the 218 needed | Office of the Clerk of the House, checked September 8, 2026 |
| Republicans who signed | Maria Elvira Salazar (Florida, July 20), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania, July 23), Don Bacon (Nebraska, September 1) | Office of the Clerk of the House |
| Remaining signatures | 214 Democratic representatives | Office of the Clerk of the House |
Verified on September 8, 2026 directly against the official record of Discharge Petition No. 25 on the website of the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Important: as of this publication, exactly one signature is missing. That means the situation could change at any moment, even before you finish reading this article.
What Is Still Needed for the Dream Act and Promise Act to Become Law?
Even once the 218th signature is added and the vote is forced, several steps would still remain. First, the bill would need to pass by majority vote on the House floor. Second, the Senate would need to pass the same version, or an equivalent version, of the bill. Third, if the two chambers pass different versions, they would need to agree on a single one. Finally, the bill would need to be signed by President Donald Trump to become law.
Careful: none of these steps is guaranteed. The House voting yes does not mean the Senate will do the same, nor that the president will sign it.
Has This Happened Before With the Dream Act and Promise Act?
Yes. Different versions of the Dream Act have been introduced in Congress repeatedly since 2001, and none has become law yet. However, it is true that, in general terms, it has been one of the immigration proposals with the most support from both parties over the years. The presence of three Republicans on this discharge petition, along with Fitzpatrick as a cosponsor of the bill, is consistent with that history.
What Do We Recommend Doing Now?
First, understand that the Dream Act and Promise Act are still a proposal, not a law. Second, if you might qualify under either title if it passed, start organizing evidence of your time in the United States, your education, and your record. Third, do not make major immigration decisions based only on the expectation that this bill will pass. And fourth, be wary of anyone who assures you that you can already sign up or pay for anything related to this proposal. No application exists yet to file.
In our firm, your case is reviewed in a consultation with attorney Jesús Reyes. Our consultations are not free. However, they allow us to review your file in depth and tell you honestly what legal alternatives exist today, while this proposal makes its way through Congress. We also offer emergency consultations, which are scheduled faster and cost more. You can schedule your consultation here.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Dream Act and Promise Act
Are the Dream Act and Promise Act Already Law?
No. As of this publication, they remain a proposal. The House still needs to vote on them, the Senate needs to pass them, and the president needs to sign them.
Who Can Sign the Discharge Petition?
Only sitting House representatives can sign that petition. A person outside Congress cannot add a signature, though they can ask their representative to do so.
Are the Dream Act and Promise Act the Same as DACA?
No. DACA is an administrative program that does not require an act of Congress, and its recipients would not necessarily qualify automatically under this bill's Dream Act title. They are different mechanisms, with different requirements.
If I Have TPS, Can I Already Apply for Something Under the Promise Act?
No, not yet. The Promise Act is still part of a proposal that has not become law. There is no application to file under this proposal at this time.
What Happens If the Senate Does Not Pass the Promise Act Portion?
That is a real possibility, since the Senate so far only has a Dream Act on the table with no TPS portion. If that happens, the two chambers would need to negotiate which parts ultimately become law.
Where Can I Verify This Information?
Always with official sources. At the end of this article, we link the official congressional records we used to verify every detail.
Conclusion on the Dream Act and Promise Act
We understand that being this close to a vote creates real hope, especially after so many years of failed attempts with the Dream Act and Promise Act. However, several more steps still need to happen before they become law. In the meantime, the most responsible approach is to keep reviewing what legal alternatives exist today, rather than waiting for a proposal to pass before acting.
Do you have questions about how this could affect your case? Contact us. We handle cases worldwide from our office in Miami, Florida. We are here to advise you and review your specific situation.
Related: you can also read about DACA eligibility and renewal in 2026, and about the most recent DHS warning on TPS termination.
See also our frequently asked questions, our DACA-related services, and the rest of our updates on our blog.
Sources Consulted
- U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo) — Official record of H.R. 1589, "American Dream and Promise Act of 2025." February 26, 2025.
- Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives — Discharge Petition No. 25, tied to H.R. 1589. Checked September 8, 2026.
- U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo) — Official record of S. 3348, "Dream Act of 2025." December 4, 2025.
