This legislation aims to reform the federal poverty line by establishing a Regionally Adjusted Poverty Line , which the Bureau of the Census will develop and publish annually for each state. This new index will incorporate Regional Price Parity to adjust existing poverty thresholds, thereby more accurately reflecting the basic needs of families and the varying costs of living across different regions. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, will use the higher of either the current poverty line or the new regionally adjusted line for each state to determine financial eligibility for most federal programs. This includes a provision for flexibility regarding Premium Tax Credits under the Affordable Care Act to protect low-income households. Furthermore, the bill mandates a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on the ALICE threshold , evaluating its advantages as an alternative poverty measure and how it could potentially be integrated into federal program eligibility criteria.