legislation
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109 rows where congress = 115 and policy_area = "Law" sorted by introduced_date descending
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| bill_id | congress | bill_type | bill_number | title | policy_area | introduced_date ▲ | latest_action_date | latest_action_text | origin_chamber | sponsor_name | sponsor_state | sponsor_party | sponsor_bioguide_id | cosponsor_count | summary_text | update_date | url |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 115-hr-7355 | 115 | hr | 7355 | PRRADA | Law | 2018-12-19 | 2018-12-19 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] | NY | D | V000081 | 4 | Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act of 2018 or PRRADA This bill requires professionals employed in debt adjustment cases involving Puerto Rico to file verified statements disclosing their connections with the debtor, creditors, and other interested parties before seeking compensation for their services. | 2023-01-11T13:40:46Z | |
| 115-s-3736 | 115 | s | 3736 | A bill to amend Rule 611 of the Federal Rules of Evidence to prohibit cross-examination by the accused of minor victims of sexual assault. | Law | 2018-12-10 | 2018-12-10 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ] | AZ | R | F000444 | 0 | This bill generally prohibits the cross-examination of a minor (i.e., an individual under the age of 18) by a pro se criminal defendant accused of sexual assault of the minor. A pro se criminal defendant is a defendant in a criminal case who represents himself or herself without a lawyer. | 2023-01-11T13:40:41Z | |
| 115-hr-7178 | 115 | hr | 7178 | Defense of Property Rights Act | Law | 2018-11-27 | 2018-11-27 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Reed, Tom [R-NY-23] | NY | R | R000585 | 3 | Defense of Property Rights Act This bill prohibits federal or state agencies from taking private property in whole or in part (including by physical invasion, regulation, exaction, or condition) except for public purpose and with just compensation to the property owner. A property owner shall receive just compensation if the property has been physically invaded or taken without the owner's consent in an action that: does not substantially advance the stated governmental interest; exacts the owner's lawful right to use the property, or a portion of the property, as a condition for an agency's action (including the granting of a permit, license, or variance) without a rough proportionality between the stated need for the property and the impact of the proposed use; deprives the owner, either temporarily or permanently, of substantially all economically beneficial or productive use of the property; diminishes the property's fair market value by at least 20% or $20,000; or constitutes any other taking within the meaning of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution. The bill allows the U.S. Court of Federal Claims to: (1) render judgment upon a claim against an agency for monetary relief, (2) invalidate federal laws or regulations that violate Fifth Amendment property rights, (3) grant injunctive and declaratory relief, and (4) have concurrent jurisdiction with other courts. The bill also establishes a six-year statute of limitations for actions to be brought after a taking and allows takings disputes to be resolved through settlement or arbitration. | 2023-01-11T13:41:00Z | |
| 115-hr-7062 | 115 | hr | 7062 | Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act | Law | 2018-10-12 | 2018-10-12 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12] | NY | D | M000087 | 93 | Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act This bill funds through FY2090 the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. Additionally, the bill modifies the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF): to allow claims to be filed until October 2089, to require VCF policies and procedures to be reassessed at least once every five years (currently, at least once annually), to require claimants to be paid for the amount by which a claim was reduced on the basis of insufficient funding, to remove the cap on noneconomic damages in special circumstances, and to adjust the annual limit on economic loss compensation for inflation. | 2023-01-11T13:41:15Z | |
| 115-s-3591 | 115 | s | 3591 | Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act | Law | 2018-10-11 | 2018-10-11 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] | NY | D | G000555 | 21 | Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act This bill funds through FY2090 the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. Additionally, the bill modifies the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF): to allow claims to be filed until October 2089, to require VCF policies and procedures to be reassessed at least once every five years (currently, at least once annually), to require claimants to be paid for the amount by which a claim was reduced on the basis of insufficient funding, to remove the cap on noneconomic damages in special circumstances, and to adjust the annual limit on economic loss compensation for inflation. | 2023-01-11T13:41:08Z | |
| 115-hr-6786 | 115 | hr | 6786 | To protect the interests of each resident of intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities in class action lawsuits by federally funded entities involving such residents and in Department of Justice actions that could result in an agreement to move such a resident from that resident's facility. | Law | 2018-09-12 | 2018-09-12 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] | VA | R | G000289 | 1 | This bill establishes certain protections for residents of an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities in class action lawsuits, or other actions, involving such residents. | 2023-01-11T13:41:33Z | |
| 115-hr-6754 | 115 | hr | 6754 | CIRCUIT Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-09-10 | 2018-09-13 | Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 5. | House | Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-49] | CA | R | I000056 | 1 | Court Imbalance Restructure Concerning Updates to Impacted Tribunals Act of 2018 or the CIRCUIT Act of 2018 This bill restructures, and increases judgeships in, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. | 2023-01-11T13:41:35Z | |
| 115-hr-6755 | 115 | hr | 6755 | Judiciary ROOM Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-09-10 | 2018-09-13 | Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. | House | Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-49] | CA | R | I000056 | 3 | Judiciary Reforms, Organization and Operational Modernization Act of 2018 or the Judiciary ROOM Act of 2018 This bill makes various changes to the operation and organization of federal courts. Among other things, the bill does the following: adds 52 new permanent district court judgeships, converts 8 temporary district court judgeships into permanent judgeships, restructures certain judicial districts, requires the Judicial Conference of the United States to issue a judicial code of conduct for judges and justices of U.S. courts (including Justices of the Supreme Court), and requires certain proceedings to be live streamed. | 2023-01-11T13:41:35Z | |
| 115-hr-6761 | 115 | hr | 6761 | Open Access to Courts Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-09-10 | 2018-09-10 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] | RI | D | C001084 | 0 | Open Access to Courts Act of 2018 This bill establishes a pilot program to provide public online access to exhibits in federal cases. | 2023-01-11T13:41:34Z | |
| 115-hr-6730 | 115 | hr | 6730 | Injunctive Authority Clarification Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-09-07 | 2018-09-13 | Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 14 - 6. | House | Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] | VA | R | G000289 | 3 | Injunctive Authority Clarification Act of 2018 This bill prohibits federal courts from issuing injunctive orders that bar enforcement of a federal law or policy against a nonparty, unless the nonparty is represented by a party in a class action lawsuit. | 2023-01-11T13:41:35Z | |
| 115-hr-6714 | 115 | hr | 6714 | Electronic Court Records Reform Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-09-06 | 2018-09-06 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9] | GA | R | C001093 | 2 | Electronic Court Records Reform Act of 2018 This bill directs the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to consolidate the Case Management/Electronic Case Files system into one system. Additionally, it establishes certain requirements for the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system, including the following: documents filed with a federal court must be publicly accessible not later than five days after filing, and documents on PACER must be available to the public and to parties before the court free of charge. | 2023-01-11T13:41:36Z | |
| 115-s-3339 | 115 | s | 3339 | Protecting Access to the Courts for Taxpayers Act | Law | 2018-08-01 | 2018-08-01 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] | IA | R | G000386 | 4 | Protecting Access to the Courts for Taxpayers Act This bill amends the federal judicial code to authorize a U.S. district court, a U.S. court of appeals, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, or the Court of International Trade to transfer to the U.S. Tax Court a misfiled case within the Tax Court's jurisdiction. | 2023-01-11T13:41:42Z | |
| 115-hr-6585 | 115 | hr | 6585 | Camp Lejeune Family Member Protection Act | Law | 2018-07-26 | 2018-07-26 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17] | PA | D | C001090 | 1 | Camp Lejeune Family Member Protection Act This bill amends the federal judicial code to authorize a new tort claim against the United States. Specifically, it allows a tort claim for damages related to the injuries or death of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces caused by a negligent or wrongful act and arising out of a violation of environmental law. | 2023-01-11T13:41:55Z | |
| 115-s-3259 | 115 | s | 3259 | Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act | Law | 2018-07-24 | 2018-07-24 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] | AK | R | S001198 | 5 | Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act This bill divides the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit into two judicial circuits: (1) the Ninth Circuit, and (2) a new Twelfth Circuit. The new Ninth Circuit shall be composed of California, Guam, Hawaii, and Northern Mariana Islands. The new Twelfth Circuit shall be composed of the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The bill creates five additional circuit court judgeships—four in the Ninth Circuit and one in the new Twelfth Circuit. It creates 52 additional district court judgeships in specified judicial districts in California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Puerto Rico, and Texas. Additionally, it converts eight temporary district court judgeships to permanent judgeships in specified judicial districts in Kansas, Missouri, Arizona, California, Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas. | 2023-01-11T13:41:47Z | |
| 115-s-3249 | 115 | s | 3249 | Federal Courts Access Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-07-19 | 2018-07-19 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] | UT | R | L000577 | 0 | Federal Courts Access Act of 2018 This bill revises the statutory requirements for federal court jurisdiction in cases involving diversity of citizenship. | 2023-01-11T13:41:48Z | |
| 115-hr-6327 | 115 | hr | 6327 | Divisional Realignment for the Eastern District of Arkansas Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-07-10 | 2018-08-06 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. | House | Rep. Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR-1] | AR | R | C001087 | 3 | Divisional Realignment for the Eastern District of Arkansas Act of 2018 This bill amends the federal judicial code to consolidate the five existing divisions in the Eastern District of Arkansas into three divisions. | 2023-01-11T13:42:03Z | |
| 115-hr-6187 | 115 | hr | 6187 | District of Columbia Courts Home Rule Act | Law | 2018-06-21 | 2018-06-21 | Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. | House | Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] | DC | D | N000147 | 0 | District of Columbia Courts Home Rule Act This bill provides authority for the Council of the District of Columbia to enact any law, resolution, or rule relating to the organization and jurisdiction of the District courts. | 2023-01-11T13:42:19Z | |
| 115-hr-6009 | 115 | hr | 6009 | District of Columbia Courts Vacancy Reduction Act | Law | 2018-06-05 | 2018-06-05 | Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. | House | Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] | DC | D | N000147 | 0 | District of Columbia Courts Vacancy Reduction Act This bill allows District of Columbia judicial nominees to be appointed after a 30-day congressional review period without the advice and consent of the Senate, unless a joint resolution of disapproval is enacted into law during that period. | 2023-01-11T13:42:24Z | |
| 115-s-2815 | 115 | s | 2815 | Litigation Funding Transparency Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-05-10 | 2018-05-10 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2625) | Senate | Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] | IA | R | G000386 | 2 | Litigation Funding Transparency Act of 2018 This bill requires disclosure of a commercial entity with a contingency right to receive compensation in class action lawsuits and multidistrict litigation in federal court. | 2023-01-11T13:42:32Z | |
| 115-hr-5656 | 115 | hr | 5656 | Catalyst Theory Restoration Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-04-27 | 2018-05-22 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17] | PA | D | C001090 | 0 | Catalyst Theory Restoration Act of 2018 This bill defines the term "prevailing party" for purposes of determining an award of attorney's fees against the federal government in judicial or administrative proceedings. Specifically, a prevailing party includes a party whose claim or defense motivates (i.e., catalyzes) the opposing party to voluntarily provide a significant part of the relief sought. | 2023-01-11T13:39:46Z | |
| 115-hr-5484 | 115 | hr | 5484 | Fair Debt Collections Practices Clarification Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-04-12 | 2018-05-21 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17] | PA | D | C001090 | 1 | Fair Debt Collections Practices Clarification Act of 2018 This bill amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to provide that, in an action brought under that Act, costs may be awarded to a defendant only if the action was brought in bad faith. | 2023-01-11T13:39:52Z | |
| 115-hr-5436 | 115 | hr | 5436 | District of Columbia Juror Pay Parity Act | Law | 2018-04-05 | 2018-04-05 | Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. | House | Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] | DC | D | N000147 | 0 | District of Columbia Juror Pay Parity Act This bill provides that grand and petit jurors serving in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia must receive fees and expenses equivalent to those provided to jurors serving in the U.S. district courts. | 2023-01-11T13:39:54Z | |
| 115-s-2591 | 115 | s | 2591 | Arbitration Fairness Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-03-22 | 2018-03-22 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] | CT | D | B001277 | 32 | Arbitration Fairness Act of 2018 This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment dispute, consumer dispute, antitrust dispute, or civil rights dispute. | 2023-01-11T13:39:58Z | |
| 115-hr-5364 | 115 | hr | 5364 | Local Courthouse Safety Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-03-21 | 2018-04-30 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. | House | Rep. Poe, Ted [R-TX-2] | TX | R | P000592 | 2 | Local Courthouse Safety Act of 2018 This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to authorize training and technical assistance to help law enforcement agencies anticipate, survive, and respond to violent encounters during the course of their duties, including duties related to security at courthouses. Additionally, the bill amends the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 to allow grant funds awarded by the State Justice Institute to be used to improve the safety and security of state and local courts. Finally, when the General Services Administration disposes of surplus security equipment (e.g., metal detectors), it must give priority to state and local courthouses. | 2023-01-11T13:40:09Z | |
| 115-hr-5367 | 115 | hr | 5367 | Protect the Gig Economy Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-03-21 | 2018-04-30 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5] | AZ | R | B001302 | 0 | Protect the Gig Economy Act of 2018 This bill amends Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to expand the preliminary requirements for class certification in a class action lawsuit to include a new requirement that the claim does not allege misclassification of employees as independent contractors. | 2023-01-11T13:40:08Z | |
| 115-hr-5283 | 115 | hr | 5283 | To make technical amendments to update statutory references to certain provisions classified to title 7, title 20, and title 43, United States Code. | Law | 2018-03-14 | 2018-04-11 | Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote. | House | Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4] | IA | R | K000362 | 2 | This bill makes technical amendments to the U.S. Code to revise references to statutory provisions classified to the following titles: Title 7 (Agriculture), Title 11 (Bankruptcy), Title 16 (Conservation), Title 20 (Education), Title 21 (Food and Drugs), Title 26 (Internal Revenue Code), Title 42 (The Public Health and Welfare), Title 43 (Public Lands), and Title 48 (Territories And Insular Possessions). | 2023-01-11T13:40:15Z | |
| 115-hr-5116 | 115 | hr | 5116 | Stopping Foreign Businesses Sanctuary Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-02-27 | 2018-02-27 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Conaway, K. Michael [R-TX-11] | TX | R | C001062 | 5 | Stopping Foreign Businesses Sanctuary Act of 2018 This bill authorizes federal and state courts to exercise jurisdiction over certain foreign entities that conduct commercial activities in the United States. | 2023-01-11T13:40:29Z | |
| 115-hr-4927 | 115 | hr | 4927 | To amend title 28, United States Code, to limit the authority of district courts to provide injunctive relief, and for other purposes. | Law | 2018-02-05 | 2018-02-05 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Brat, Dave [R-VA-7] | VA | R | B001290 | 0 | This bill limits the authority of federal district courts to issue injunctions. Specifically, it prohibits a district court from issuing an injunction unless the injunction applies only: (1) to the parties to the case before that district court, or (2) in the federal district in which the injunction is issued. | 2023-01-11T13:40:36Z | |
| 115-hr-4928 | 115 | hr | 4928 | To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide that the United States district court for the District of Columbia shall have exclusive jurisdiction over actions arising under the immigration laws, and for other purposes. | Law | 2018-02-05 | 2018-02-05 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Brat, Dave [R-VA-7] | VA | R | B001290 | 0 | This bill amends the federal judicial code to grant exclusive jurisdiction to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia over: (1) cases arising under the immigration laws, or (2) claims by foreign nationals challenging an order of removal or another action authorized under the Immigration and Nationality Act. | 2023-01-11T13:40:36Z | |
| 115-s-2282 | 115 | s | 2282 | Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2018 | Law | 2018-01-08 | 2018-01-08 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S68) | Senate | Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] | TX | R | C001056 | 1 | Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2018 This bill revises venue requirements for a non-individual debtor (e.g., a corporate debtor) in chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. | 2023-01-11T13:38:54Z | |
| 115-hr-4734 | 115 | hr | 4734 | Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-12-26 | 2018-01-22 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law. | House | Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17] | IL | D | B001286 | 38 | Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017 This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of a sex discrimination dispute. The prohibition does not apply to an arbitration provision in a contract between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations, subject to limitations. | 2023-01-11T13:39:12Z | |
| 115-hr-4570 | 115 | hr | 4570 | Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act | Law | 2017-12-06 | 2018-01-22 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law. | House | Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17] | IL | D | B001286 | 5 | Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of a sex discrimination dispute. | 2023-01-11T13:39:18Z | |
| 115-s-2195 | 115 | s | 2195 | Judicial Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-12-06 | 2017-12-06 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S7892-7893; text of measure as introduced: CR S7893) | Senate | Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] | IA | R | G000386 | 0 | Judicial Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal judicial code to establish the Office of Inspector General for the Judicial Branch to investigate alleged misconduct in the judicial branch, including the Supreme Court; to conduct and supervise audits and investigations; and to prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse. | 2023-01-11T13:39:09Z | |
| 115-s-2203 | 115 | s | 2203 | Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-12-06 | 2017-12-06 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. | Senate | Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] | NY | D | G000555 | 18 | Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017 This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of a sex discrimination dispute. The prohibition does not apply to an arbitration provision in a contract between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations, subject to limitations. | 2023-01-11T13:39:08Z | |
| 115-hr-4382 | 115 | hr | 4382 | Free Flow of Information Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-11-14 | 2017-12-13 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. | House | Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] | MD | D | R000606 | 12 | Free Flow of Information Act of 2017 This bill establishes conditions under which a journalist may be compelled to produce documents or provide testimony in a matter arising under federal law. | 2023-01-11T13:38:01Z | |
| 115-hr-4130 | 115 | hr | 4130 | Mandatory Arbitration Transparency Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-10-25 | 2017-11-14 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law. | House | Rep. O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX-16] | TX | D | O000170 | 0 | Mandatory Arbitration Transparency Act of 2017 This bill prohibits predispute arbitration agreements from containing a confidentiality clause regarding an employment, consumer, or civil rights dispute that could be interpreted to prohibit a party from: (1) making a communication in a manner such that the prohibition would violate a whistle-blower statute; or (2) reporting or making a communication about tortious conduct, unlawful conduct, or issues of public policy or public concern. But the prohibition shall not apply if a party can demonstrate a confidentiality interest that significantly outweighs the private and public interest in disclosure. The validity or enforceability of such an agreement to arbitrate shall be determined by a court, under federal law, rather than by an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement. The bill does not apply to contracts between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations, except that no such arbitration provision shall waive the right of an employee to seek judicial enforcement of a right arising under the U.S. Constitution, a state constitution, a federal or state statute, or related public policy. The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce against violations by persons offering such agreements, which shall be treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under Federal Trade Commission Act. The bill also allows private rights of action by any persons aggrieved by a violation. | 2023-01-11T13:38:22Z | |
| 115-hr-4100 | 115 | hr | 4100 | Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-10-24 | 2018-07-24 | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1] | OH | R | C000266 | 0 | Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill revises the federal charter for the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association: to eliminate the provision that requires the foundation to be incorporated and domiciled in the District of Columbia; to require the board of directors to decide, and specify in the bylaws, the location of the principal office; to specify that the bylaws—not the charter—must provide for the terms of membership, the responsibilities of the board of directors, and the election of officers; to prohibit a director or officer, in his or her corporate capacity, from contributing to, supporting, or participating in political activities; to allow income and assets of the corporation to be used to reasonably compensate or reimburse expenses of an officer, director, or member; to award a grant to the Federal Bar Association chapter of an officer, director, or member; and to reasonably compensate employees; to expand a prohibition on loans for directors and officers to include members and employees; and to specify that on dissolution or final liquidation, any remaining assets must be distributed as provided by the board of directors instead of deposited in the Treasury. | 2023-01-11T13:38:24Z | |
| 115-hr-4070 | 115 | hr | 4070 | Article I Amicus and Intervention Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-10-16 | 2017-10-16 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] | VA | R | G000289 | 0 | Article I Amicus and Intervention Act of 2017 This bill provides additional statutory authority for Congress to participate in judicial proceedings involving the constitutionality of a federal law. | 2023-01-11T13:38:25Z | |
| 115-hr-4010 | 115 | hr | 4010 | Congressional Subpoena Compliance and Enforcement Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-10-11 | 2017-10-24 | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-49] | CA | R | I000056 | 5 | Congressional Subpoena Compliance and Enforcement Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal judicial code to establish certain rules that apply in a civil action by the Senate, House of Representatives, or a congressional committee or subcommittee against an individual who receives, but fails to comply with, a congressional subpoena. Specifically, the rules: allow the action to be filed in a U.S. district court; require expedited disposition of the action and any appeals; and authorize court-imposed monetary penalties against the head of a government agency or component who willfully fails to comply with a congressional subpoena. (Sec. 3) Additionally, the bill amends the Revised Statutes of the United States to establish requirements for the recipient of a subpoena from a congressional committee or subcommittee, including: to appear and testify or produce records—books, papers, documents, data, or other objects—in a manner consistent with the subpoena; and to provide a privilege log containing certain information about records that are withheld, such as the type of record and the legal basis for withholding it. | 2023-01-11T13:38:27Z | |
| 115-hres-568 | 115 | hres | 568 | Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the justices of the United States Supreme Court should make themselves subject to the existing and operative ethics guidelines set out in the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, or should promulgate their own code of conduct. | Law | 2017-10-11 | 2017-10-16 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. | House | Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] | DC | D | N000147 | 1 | Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Justices of the Supreme Court should subject themselves to the ethics guidelines set out in the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges or promulgate their own code of conduct. | 2023-01-11T13:38:19Z | |
| 115-hr-3996 | 115 | hr | 3996 | Protecting Access to the Courts for Taxpayers Act | Law | 2017-10-10 | 2018-12-19 | Became Public Law No: 115-332. | House | Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-49] | CA | R | I000056 | 2 | Protecting Access to the Courts for Taxpayers Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the federal judicial code to authorize a U.S. district court, a U.S. court of appeals, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, or the Court of International Trade to transfer to the U.S. Tax Court a misfiled case within the Tax Court's jurisdiction. | 2023-03-22T19:50:54Z | |
| 115-hr-3984 | 115 | hr | 3984 | Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act | Law | 2017-10-05 | 2017-10-16 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-28] | CA | D | S001150 | 45 | Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act This bill amends the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to repeal provisions that prohibit civil actions against a firearm or ammunition manufacturer, seller, importer, dealer, or trade association for the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm. Additionally, the bill states that firearms trace data maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is not immune from legal process. Such data is subject to discovery; is admissible as evidence; and may be used, relied on, or disclosed in a civil action or administrative proceeding. | 2023-01-11T13:38:28Z | |
| 115-s-1924 | 115 | s | 1924 | A bill to authorize 2 additional district judgeships for the district of Colorado. | Law | 2017-10-05 | 2017-10-05 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] | CO | D | B001267 | 1 | This bill amends the federal judicial code to increase from seven to nine the total number of U.S. district court judgeships for the District of Colorado. The President must appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, two additional judges for that judicial district. | 2023-01-11T13:38:17Z | |
| 115-s-1939 | 115 | s | 1939 | Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act | Law | 2017-10-05 | 2017-10-05 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] | CT | D | B001277 | 19 | Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act This bill amends the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to repeal provisions that prohibit civil actions against a firearm or ammunition manufacturer, seller, importer, dealer, or trade association for the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm. | 2023-01-11T13:38:17Z | |
| 115-hr-3950 | 115 | hr | 3950 | Judicial Review Improvement Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-10-04 | 2017-10-16 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law. | House | Rep. Love, Mia B. [R-UT-4] | UT | R | L000584 | 8 | Judicial Review Improvement Act of 2017 This bill specifies the general standard for judicial review of actions by certain federal financial regulatory agencies. Specifically, courts reviewing an action by such agency must generally decide de novo (i.e., without deference to the agency's interpretation) all relevant questions of law, including the interpretation of constitutional and statutory provisions and rules made by the agency. | 2023-01-11T13:38:29Z | |
| 115-hr-3899 | 115 | hr | 3899 | To amend title 28, United States Code, to redefine the eastern and middle judicial districts of North Carolina. | Law | 2017-10-02 | 2017-10-13 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. | House | Rep. Holding, George [R-NC-2] | NC | R | H001065 | 2 | This bill amends the federal judicial code to move portions of four counties encompassing the Fort Bragg Military Reservation and Camp Mackall from the Middle District to the Eastern District of North Carolina. | 2023-01-11T13:38:31Z | |
| 115-hr-3531 | 115 | hr | 3531 | Downwinders Compensation Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-07-28 | 2017-09-06 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-4] | AZ | R | G000565 | 6 | Downwinders Compensation Act of 2017 This bill amends the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to expand eligibility for restitution relating to atmospheric nuclear testing to individuals who were present, during the periods of testing, in any part of Clark County, Nevada, or any part of any county in Arizona that has a part north of the Grand Canyon. | 2023-01-11T13:37:15Z | |
| 115-hr-3571 | 115 | hr | 3571 | Reasonable ADA Compliance Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-07-28 | 2017-09-06 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14] | FL | D | C001066 | 0 | Reasonable ADA Compliance Act of 2017 This bill amends the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to deny jurisdiction to a state or federal court in a civil action a plaintiff commences for remedies for disability discrimination in public accommodations and certain services provided by private entities unless: (1) the plaintiff notified the defendant in writing of the alleged violations prior to filing the complaint, (2) the notice identified the specific facts that constitute the alleged violation, (3) a remedial period of 120 days elapses after the notice, (4) the notice informed the defendant that the civil action could not be commenced for 120 days, and (5) the complaint states that the defendant has not corrected the alleged violation. | 2023-01-11T13:37:14Z | |
| 115-hr-3487 | 115 | hr | 3487 | To amend section 1332 of title 28, United States Code, to provide that the requirement for diversity of citizenship jurisdiction is met if any one party to the case is diverse in citizenship from any one adverse party in the case. | Law | 2017-07-27 | 2018-09-13 | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. | House | Rep. King, Steve [R-IA-4] | IA | R | K000362 | 1 | This bill amends the federal judicial code to specify that U.S. district courts have jurisdiction on the basis of diversity of citizenship if at least one adverse party does not share the same citizenship as another adverse party. | 2023-01-11T13:37:17Z | |
| 115-s-1431 | 115 | s | 1431 | Volunteer Pilot Protection Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-06-26 | 2017-06-26 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK] | OK | R | I000024 | 2 | Volunteer Pilot Protection Act of 2017 This bill amends the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 to protect a volunteer pilot from civil liability for harm caused while operating an aircraft on behalf of a nonprofit organization that arranges flights for public benefit. | 2023-01-11T13:37:34Z | |
| 115-s-1416 | 115 | s | 1416 | A bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to redefine the eastern and middle judicial districts of North Carolina. | Law | 2017-06-22 | 2017-06-22 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC] | NC | R | T000476 | 1 | This bill amends the federal judicial code to move portions of four counties encompassing the Fort Bragg Military Reservation and Camp Mackall from the Middle District to the Eastern District of North Carolina. | 2023-01-11T13:37:35Z | |
| 115-hr-2844 | 115 | hr | 2844 | To authorize 2 additional district judgeships for the district of Colorado. | Law | 2017-06-08 | 2017-07-19 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. | House | Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] | CO | D | D000197 | 6 | This bill amends the federal judicial code to increase from seven to nine the total number of U.S. district court judgeships for the District of Colorado. The President must appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, two additional judges for that judicial district. | 2023-01-11T13:37:52Z | |
| 115-s-1302 | 115 | s | 1302 | Temporary Judgeship Conversion Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-06-07 | 2017-06-07 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] | KS | R | M000934 | 5 | Temporary Judgeship Conversion Act of 2017 This bill converts certain temporary U.S. district court judgeships to permanent judgeships in specified U.S. judicial districts in Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas. | 2023-01-11T13:37:39Z | |
| 115-hr-2783 | 115 | hr | 2783 | Equal Justice for Our Military Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-06-06 | 2017-07-12 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. | House | Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53] | CA | D | D000598 | 0 | Equal Justice for Our Military Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal judicial code to allow for review by writ of certiorari of certain cases denied relief or review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. The time for application for such a writ shall be as prescribed by rules of the Supreme Court. | 2023-01-11T13:37:54Z | |
| 115-hr-2660 | 115 | hr | 2660 | APPEAL Act | Law | 2017-05-25 | 2017-07-11 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. | House | Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6] | AL | R | P000609 | 12 | Assigning Proper Placement of Executive Action Lawsuits Act or the APPEAL Act This bill provides exclusive original jurisdiction to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for cases regarding an executive order, action, or memorandum. | 2023-01-11T13:36:38Z | |
| 115-s-1249 | 115 | s | 1249 | Florida Federal Judicial Relief Act | Law | 2017-05-25 | 2017-05-25 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] | FL | R | R000595 | 1 | Florida Federal Judicial Relief Act This bill requires the President, with the Senate's advice and consent, to appoint: six additional district judges for the middle district of Florida; one additional district judge for the northern district of Florida; and three additional district judges for the southern district of Florida. The bill also converts a temporary judge for the southern district of Florida into a permanent judge. | 2023-01-11T13:36:23Z | |
| 115-hr-2432 | 115 | hr | 2432 | Volunteer Organization Protection Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-05-16 | 2017-06-07 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1] | OH | R | C000266 | 37 | Volunteer Organization Protection Act of 2017 This bill amends the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 to expand liability protections to volunteer nonprofit organizations for harm caused by an act or omission of a volunteer on behalf of the organization. The bill prohibits such liability protections from applying if the organization: (1) would be liable under laws governing the direct or vicarious liability of organizations, and (2) expressly authorized the specific conduct constituting the act or omission. The bill bars such an organization from liability for harm caused by the organization, or a volunteer acting on its behalf, if the act or omission was at the request of, or pursuant to an authorization by, a state, the United States, or another governmental subdivision, provided that: (1) the requesting or authorizing governmental entity would have been immune either from suit or from liability in damages if it had engaged in the acts or omissions itself or through employees or independent contractors; or (2) the governmental employee, agent, or contractor would have been immune either from suit or from liability in damages by virtue of immunity extended to individual governmental actors. The bill prohibits punitive damages from being awarded against a volunteer nonprofit organization for the actions of a volunteer within the scope of the volunteer's responsibilities to the organization unless the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the organization itself expressly authorized the volunteer's action with a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed. | 2023-01-11T13:36:46Z | |
| 115-s-1107 | 115 | s | 1107 | Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-05-11 | 2017-09-06 | Held at the desk. | Senate | Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] | DE | D | C001088 | 7 | Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill reauthorizes 14 temporary bankruptcy judgeships in specified judicial districts in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Puerto Rico, Virginia, Nevada, and North Carolina. (Sec. 3) It authorizes the appointment of four additional temporary bankruptcy judges in Delaware, Florida, and Michigan. (Sec. 4) The bill amends the federal judicial code to increase the quarterly fee imposed on certain chapter 11 (reorganization) debtors. Specifically, if the balance in the U.S. Trustee System Fund is less than $200 million, then a debtor with total quarterly disbursements of $1 million or more must pay a quarterly fee equal to $250,000 or 1% of disbursements, whichever is less. It also specifies that for FY2018-FY2022, 98% of the quarterly fees collected must be deposited as offsetting collections to the U.S. Trustee System Fund and 2% must be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury. (Sec. 5) This section amends the federal bankruptcy code to include an unsecured claim by a governmental unit (e.g., a tax claim by the Internal Revenue Service) resulting from the sale, transfer, exchange, or disposition of farming property in chapter 12 bankruptcy (family farmer or fisherman reorganization) proceedings. Such a claim that arises before a debtor's discharge, regardless of whether the claim is pre-petition or post-petition, must be treated as a pre-petition claim, is not entitled to priority status, must be provided for under the bankruptcy plan, and is dischargeable. | 2023-01-11T13:36:28Z | |
| 115-hr-1985 | 115 | hr | 1985 | Justice for Children Now Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-04-06 | 2017-05-01 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. | House | Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] | TX | D | J000032 | 3 | Justice for Children Now Act of 2017 This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to appoint 70 immigration judges in addition to those serving as of the date of enactment of this bill. | 2023-01-11T13:36:02Z | |
| 115-hr-1960 | 115 | hr | 1960 | Supreme Court Ethics Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-04-05 | 2018-05-15 | ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Johnson (GA) asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1960, a bill originally introduced by Representative Slaughter of New York, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings under clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection. | House | Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25] | NY | D | S000480 | 96 | Supreme Court Ethics Act of 2017 The bill requires the Supreme Court to promulgate a code of ethics for the Justices of the Supreme Court that shall include the five canons of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, with any amendments or modifications that the Supreme Court determines appropriate. | 2023-01-11T13:36:03Z | |
| 115-s-835 | 115 | s | 835 | Supreme Court Ethics Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-04-05 | 2017-04-05 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] | CT | D | M001169 | 15 | Supreme Court Ethics Act of 2017 The bill requires the Supreme Court to promulgate a code of ethics for the Justices of the Supreme Court that shall include the five canons of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States, with any amendments or modifications that the Supreme Court determines appropriate. | 2023-01-11T13:36:59Z | |
| 115-hr-1856 | 115 | hr | 1856 | Justice for Victims of Confidential Informant Crime Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-04-03 | 2017-04-24 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] | MA | D | L000562 | 0 | Justice for Victims of Confidential Informant Crime Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal judicial code to extend to three years and six months the period within which a tort claim against the United States must be presented in writing to a federal agency when the claim arises out of a government employee's conduct with respect to the criminal misconduct of a government informant. (Current law bars all tort claims against the United States that are not presented within two years after the claim accrues.) The extension applies retroactively to any such claim that: (1) accrued on or after May 1, 1981; and (2) in the case of a claim accrued before the date of enactment of this bill, is presented within one year after such date. The government is prohibited from asserting a defense or a bar, based on the doctrine of res judicata or collateral estoppel, to a claim that accrued before enactment of this bill and to which this bill applies. | 2023-01-11T13:36:07Z | |
| 115-hr-1598 | 115 | hr | 1598 | Ninth Circuit Court Modernization and Twelfth Circuit Court Creation Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-03-17 | 2017-03-31 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. | House | Rep. Gohmert, Louie [R-TX-1] | TX | R | G000552 | 1 | Ninth Circuit Court Modernization and Twelfth Circuit Court Creation Act of 2017 This bill divides the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit into: (1) a new Ninth Circuit that consists of only California; and (2) a newly established Twelfth Circuit to be composed of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and Hawaii. The Twelfth Circuit must hold regular sessions in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Anchorage, Missoula, Portland, and Seattle. Each circuit judge of the former Ninth Circuit who is in regular active service and whose official duty station is currently in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Guam, Hawaii, the Northern Mariana Islands, or Nevada shall be a circuit judge of the new Ninth Circuit. The President shall appoint, with the advice of the Senate, 17 circuit judges for the new Twelfth Circuit, selected from the states assigned to that circuit. Senior circuit judges of the former Ninth Circuit currently stationed in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, or the Northern Mariana Islands may elect their circuit assignment. | 2023-01-11T13:35:36Z | |
| 115-s-632 | 115 | s | 632 | Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-03-15 | 2017-03-15 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] | DE | D | C001088 | 5 | Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal judicial code to: convert certain temporary bankruptcy judges to permanent bankruptcy judges and authorize the appointment of additional bankruptcy judges in Delaware and Michigan; convert temporary bankruptcy judges to permanent bankruptcy judges in specified judicial districts in Florida, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, and Virginia; and authorize the appointment of additional bankruptcy judges in the middle district of Florida. | 2023-01-11T13:36:16Z | |
| 115-s-635 | 115 | s | 635 | Jury ACCESS Act | Law | 2017-03-15 | 2017-03-15 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] | NH | D | S001181 | 16 | Jury Access for Capable Citizens and Equality in Service Selection Act of 2017 or the Jury ACCESS Act This bill amends the federal judicial code to prohibit the exclusion of citizens from service as a grand or petit juror in U.S. district courts or the Court of International Trade on account of sexual orientation or gender identity (thereby expanding the current prohibition against exclusion on account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status). | 2023-01-11T13:36:16Z | |
| 115-s-643 | 115 | s | 643 | Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-03-15 | 2017-03-15 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1845) | Senate | Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] | IA | R | G000386 | 8 | Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2017 This bill authorizes the presiding judge of a U.S. appellate court or U.S. district court to permit the photographing, electronic recording, broadcasting, or televising to the public of court proceedings over which that judge presides, except when it would constitute a violation of the due process rights of any party. Upon the request of any witness in a trial proceeding other than a party, a district court must order the face and voice of the witness to be disguised or otherwise obscured to render the witness unrecognizable to the broadcast audience of the trial proceeding. The presiding judge in a trial proceeding must inform each witness who is not a party of the right to make such request. A presiding judge may obscure the face and voice of an individual if good cause is shown that photographing, electronic recording, broadcasting, or televising such features would threaten the individual's safety, the court's security, the integrity of future or ongoing law enforcement operations, or the interest of justice. The bill prohibits a presiding judge from permitting the photographing, electronic recording, broadcasting, or televising of any juror in a trial proceeding, or of the jury selection process. The bill terminates a district court's authority under this bill three years after its enactment. The Judicial Conference of the United States must promulgate mandatory guidelines that a presiding judge must follow for obscuring certain vulnerable witnesses. The bill prohibits any audio pickup or broadcast of conferences which occur in a court proceeding between attorneys and their clients, co-counsel of a client, adverse counsel, or counsel and the presiding judge, if the conferences are not part of the official record of the proceedings. | 2023-01-11T13:36:15Z | |
| 115-s-647 | 115 | s | 647 | Mandatory Arbitration Transparency Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-03-15 | 2017-03-15 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] | CT | D | B001277 | 6 | Mandatory Arbitration Transparency Act of 2017 This bill prohibits predispute arbitration agreements from containing a confidentiality clause regarding an employment, consumer, or civil rights dispute that could be interpreted to prohibit a party from: (1) making a communication in a manner such that the prohibition would violate a whistle-blower statute; or (2) reporting or making a communication about tortious conduct, unlawful conduct, or issues of public policy or public concern. But the prohibition shall not apply if a party can demonstrate a confidentiality interest that significantly outweighs the private and public interest in disclosure. The validity or enforceability of such an agreement to arbitrate shall be determined by a court, under federal law, rather than by an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement. The bill does not apply to contracts between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations, except that no such arbitration provision shall waive the right of an employee to seek judicial enforcement of a right arising under the U.S. Constitution, a state constitution, a federal or state statute, or related public policy. The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce against violations by persons offering such agreements, which shall be treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under Federal Trade Commission Act. The bill also allows private rights of action by any persons aggrieved by a violation. | 2023-01-11T13:36:15Z | |
| 115-s-649 | 115 | s | 649 | Cameras in the Courtroom Act | Law | 2017-03-15 | 2017-03-15 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1846) | Senate | Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] | IL | D | D000563 | 4 | Cameras in the Courtroom Act This bill requires the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court unless it decides by majority vote that allowing such coverage in a particular case would violate the due process rights of any of the parties involved. | 2023-01-11T13:36:15Z | |
| 115-hr-1515 | 115 | hr | 1515 | Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-03-13 | 2017-03-31 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53] | CA | D | D000598 | 84 | Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal judicial code to prohibit the exclusion of citizens from service as a grand or petit juror in U.S. district courts or the Court of International Trade on account of sexual orientation or gender identity (thereby expanding the current prohibition against exclusion on account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status). | 2023-01-11T13:35:39Z | |
| 115-hr-1493 | 115 | hr | 1493 | ADA Lawsuit Clarification Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-03-10 | 2017-03-21 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Denham, Jeff [R-CA-10] | CA | R | D000612 | 0 | ADA Lawsuit Clarification Act of 2017 This bill amends the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to prohibit an aggrieved person from commencing a civil action for discrimination based on the failure to remove a structural barrier to entry into an existing public accommodation unless the owner or operator of such accommodation: (1) is provided a written notice specific enough to identify such barrier; and (2) has either failed, within 60 days after receipt of notice, to provide the aggrieved person with a written description outlining improvements that will be made to remove such barrier or failed, within 120 days after providing the description of improvements, to remove such barrier. An owner or operator may not be held civilly or criminally liable for failing to remove a structural barrier before the expiration of a 120-day that begins after the aggrieved person has been provided the description of improvements that will be made. The Department of Justice must make technical assistance publications relating to compliance with this bill available in all languages commonly used by owners and operators. | 2023-01-11T13:35:40Z | |
| 115-hr-1450 | 115 | hr | 1450 | No Stolen Trademarks Honored in America Act | Law | 2017-03-09 | 2017-03-21 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. | House | Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-49] | CA | R | I000056 | 19 | No Stolen Trademarks Honored in America Act This bill amends the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 to prohibit U.S. courts from recognizing, enforcing, or otherwise validating any assertion of rights by an individual (under current law, by a designated Cuban national) of a mark, trade name, or commercial name that was used in connection with a business or assets that were confiscated by the Cuban government unless the original owner of such mark or name, or such owner's bona fide successor, has expressly consented. The bill applies such prohibition only if the individual asserting the rights knew or had reason to know at the time of acquiring the rights asserted that the mark or name was the same or substantially similar to the mark or name used in connection with the business or assets that were confiscated. | 2023-01-11T13:35:41Z | |
| 115-hres-181 | 115 | hres | 181 | Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. | Law | 2017-03-08 | 2017-03-16 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Gaetz, Matt [R-FL-1] | FL | R | G000578 | 14 | Expresses support for the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court and calls for the Senate to hold a swift confirmation of his nomination. | 2023-01-11T13:35:26Z | |
| 115-hr-1374 | 115 | hr | 1374 | Arbitration Fairness Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-03-07 | 2017-03-17 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law. | House | Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4] | GA | D | J000288 | 82 | Arbitration Fairness Act of 2017 This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights dispute. The validity and enforceability of an agreement to arbitrate shall be determined by a court, under federal law, rather than an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement. Nothing in this bill applies to arbitration provisions in a contract between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations, except that no such arbitration provision shall have the effect of waiving the right of an employee to seek judicial enforcement of a right arising under the U.S. Constitution, a state constitution, a federal or state statute, or related public policy. | 2023-01-11T13:35:44Z | |
| 115-hr-1396 | 115 | hr | 1396 | Restoring Statutory Rights and Interests of the States Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-03-07 | 2017-03-17 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law. | House | Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] | RI | D | C001084 | 14 | Restoring Statutory Rights and Interests of the States Act of 2017 This bill amends the Federal Arbitration Act to invalidate arbitration agreements between parties in certain commercial contracts or transactions if they require arbitration of a claim for damages or injunctive relief brought by an individual or small business arising from the alleged violation of a federal or state statute, the U.S. Constitution, or a state constitution, unless the written agreement to arbitrate is entered into by both parties after the claim has arisen and pertains solely to an existing claim. The grounds upon which a contract with an arbitration agreement is revocable shall include federal or state statutes or court findings that prohibit an agreement to arbitrate if the agreement is unconscionable, invalid because there was no meeting of the minds, or otherwise unenforceable as a matter of contract law or public policy. A court, rather than an arbitrator, shall determine whether an arbitration agreement is enforceable. | 2023-01-11T13:35:43Z | |
| 115-s-537 | 115 | s | 537 | Arbitration Fairness Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-03-07 | 2017-03-07 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN] | MN | D | F000457 | 26 | Arbitration Fairness Act of 2017 This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights dispute. The validity and enforceability of an agreement to arbitrate shall be determined by a court, under federal law, rather than an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement. Nothing in this bill applies to arbitration provisions in a contract between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations, except that no such arbitration provision shall have the effect of waiving the right of an employee to seek judicial enforcement of a right arising under the U.S. Constitution, a state constitution, a federal or state statute, or related public policy. | 2023-01-11T13:36:20Z | |
| 115-s-542 | 115 | s | 542 | Safety Over Arbitration Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-03-07 | 2017-03-07 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] | RI | D | W000802 | 7 | Safety Over Arbitration Act of 2017 This bill prohibits the use of arbitration whenever a contract between an individual and another party requires arbitration to resolve a claim or controversy alleging facts relevant to a hazard to public health or safety unless all parties to the controversy consent in writing after the controversy arises. If arbitration is elected with the consent of all parties, the arbitrator must provide the parties to such contract with a written explanation of the factual and legal basis for any award or other outcome, which shall not be made under seal by the arbitrator or a court. | 2023-01-11T13:36:19Z | |
| 115-s-550 | 115 | s | 550 | Restoring Statutory Rights and Interests of the States Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-03-07 | 2017-03-07 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1642) | Senate | Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT] | VT | D | L000174 | 15 | Restoring Statutory Rights and Interests of the States Act of 2017 This bill amends the Federal Arbitration Act to invalidate arbitration agreements between parties in certain commercial contracts or transactions if they require arbitration of a claim for damages or injunctive relief brought by an individual or small business arising from the alleged violation of a federal or state statute, the U.S. Constitution, or a state constitution, unless the written agreement to arbitrate is entered into by both parties after the claim has arisen and pertains solely to an existing claim. The grounds upon which a contract with an arbitration agreement is revocable shall include federal or state statutes or court findings that prohibit an agreement to arbitrate if the agreement is unconscionable, invalid because there was no meeting of the minds, or otherwise unenforceable as a matter of contract law or public policy. A court, rather than an arbitrator, shall determine whether an arbitration agreement is enforceable. | 2023-01-11T13:36:19Z | |
| 115-hr-1292 | 115 | hr | 1292 | CAPTIVE Act | Law | 2017-03-01 | 2017-03-01 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-8] | FL | R | P000599 | 5 | Clarifying Amendment to Provide Terrorism Victims Equity Act or the CAPTIVE Act This bill amends the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 to allow a person's court-awarded judgment against a terrorist party that is based on an act of terrorism to be satisfied with assets that the United States has seized or frozen from that terrorist party under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. Under current law, assets seized or frozen under the Trading with the Enemy Act or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act are the only assets seized or frozen by the United States that may be used to satisfy such a person's judgment against a terrorist party. The bill also narrows the categories of "persons" who may satisfy their judgments against terrorist parties with such seized or frozen assets to natural persons who, at the time the act of terrorism was committed upon which the judgment was obtained, were: U.S. nationals; members of the U.S. Armed Forces; or otherwise employees of the federal government, or of a federal contractor, acting within the scope of employment. If a person described is deceased, the personal representative of the estate of that deceased person shall count as the person. The bill applies retroactively to judgments entered before its enactment. | 2023-01-11T13:35:47Z | |
| 115-hr-1118 | 115 | hr | 1118 | Innocent Sellers Fairness Act | Law | 2017-02-16 | 2017-03-06 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Farenthold, Blake [R-TX-27] | TX | R | F000460 | 6 | Innocent Sellers Fairness Act This bill exempts a seller from liability for personal injury, monetary loss, or damage to property arising out of an accident or transaction involving a seller's products during the regular course of trade or business, unless the claimant proves that the seller: was the manufacturer or participated in the design or installation of the product; altered, modified, or expressly warranted the product in a manner not authorized by the manufacturer; had actual knowledge of the defect in the product as a result of a recall from the manufacturer or governmental entity authorized to make such recall or actual inspection at the time the seller sold the product to the claimant; had actual knowledge of the defect in the product at the time the seller supplied the product; intentionally altered or modified a product warranty, warning, or instruction from the manufacturer in a way not authorized by the manufacturer; or knowingly made a false representation about an aspect of the product not authorized by the manufacturer. The bill limits the seller's liability to the personal injury, monetary loss, or damage to property directly caused by such activity where a claimant proves one or more of such activities was negligent. | 2023-01-11T13:35:09Z | |
| 115-hr-1033 | 115 | hr | 1033 | Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act | Law | 2017-02-14 | 2017-02-28 | Received in the Senate. | House | Rep. Collins, Doug [R-GA-9] | GA | R | C001093 | 8 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Equal Access to Justice Act and the federal judicial code to require the Administrative Conference of the United States to create and maintain online searchable databases with information about the attorney's fees and other expenses awarded to prevailing parties other than the United States in certain: (1) agency-conducted adversary adjudication proceedings, and (2) civil action court cases (excluding tort cases) or settlement agreements to which the United States is a party. With respect to each award, the information must include: (1) the name of the agency involved, (2) the name of each party to whom the award was made, (3) a description of the claims, (4) the amount of the award, and (5) the basis for finding that the position of the agency concerned was not substantially justified. Under current law, the awards are made unless the position of the agency was substantially justified or special circumstances make an award unjust. | 2023-01-11T13:35:12Z | |
| 115-hr-1053 | 115 | hr | 1053 | Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-02-14 | 2017-03-02 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] | NY | D | N000002 | 0 | Sunshine in Litigation Act of 2017 This bill amends the federal judicial code to prohibit a court, in any civil action in which the pleadings state facts relevant to the protection of public health or safety, from entering an order restricting the disclosure of information obtained through discovery, approving a settlement agreement that would restrict such disclosure, or restricting access to court records, unless the court first makes independent findings: (1) that the order would not restrict the disclosure of information relevant to the protection of public health or safety; or (2) that the public interest in the disclosure of past, present, or potential health or safety hazards is outweighed by a specific and substantial interest in maintaining the confidentiality of the information and that the requested protective order is no broader than necessary to protect the confidentiality interest asserted. Courts are prohibited from enforcing any provision of: (1) an agreement between or among parties to the civil action, or an order entered under this bill, that restricts a party from disclosing information to any federal or state agency with authority to enforce laws regulating an activity relating to such information; or (2) a settlement agreement between or among parties to such civil action that prohibits a party from disclosing that a settlement was reached or the terms of the settlement (excluding any money paid) that involve matters relevant to the protection of public health or safety, or from discussing matters relevant to the protection of public health or safety involved in such civil action. The bill exempts from this enforcement prohibition (thus allows enforcement of) a settlement agreement provision about which the court finds that the public interest in the disclosure of past, present, or potential public health or safety hazards is outweighed by a specific and substantial interest in maintaining the confidentiality of the information in question, and the requested protective order is no broader th… | 2023-01-11T13:35:12Z | |
| 115-s-378 | 115 | s | 378 | Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act | Law | 2017-02-14 | 2017-02-14 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY] | WY | R | B001261 | 10 | Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act This bill amends the Equal Access to Justice Act and the federal judicial code to require the Administrative Conference of the United States to create and maintain online searchable databases with information about the attorney's fees and other expenses awarded to prevailing parties other than the United States in certain: (1) agency-conducted adversary adjudication proceedings, and (2) civil action court cases (excluding tort cases) or settlement agreements to which the United States is a party. With respect to each award, the information must include: (1) the name of the agency involved, (2) the name of each party to whom the award was made, (3) a description of the claims, (4) the amount of the award, and (5) the basis for finding that the position of the agency concerned was not substantially justified. Under current law, the awards are made unless the position of the agency was substantially justified or special circumstances make an award unjust. | 2023-01-11T13:34:47Z | |
| 115-hr-1025 | 115 | hr | 1025 | Eyes on the Courts Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-02-13 | 2017-03-02 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. | House | Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] | NY | D | N000002 | 2 | Eyes on the Courts Act of 2017 This bill requires the presiding judge of a U.S. appellate court, including the Supreme Court, to permit the photographing, electronic recording, audio-visual coverage, broadcasting, televising, or streaming on the Internet of appellate court proceedings to or for the public, unless the judge determines, upon a motion of a party or the judge, that it would constitute a violation of the due process rights of a party or is not in the interests of justice. The Judicial Conference of the United States may promulgate mandatory guidelines with respect to the management and administration of such photographing, recording, broadcasting, televising, or streaming. The presiding judge of each appellate court may promulgate rules and disciplinary measures for the courtroom use of any form of media or media equipment and the acquisition or distribution of any of the images or sounds obtained in the courtroom. | 2023-01-11T13:35:13Z | |
| 115-hr-985 | 115 | hr | 985 | Fairness in Class Action Litigation and Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-02-09 | 2017-03-13 | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] | VA | R | G000289 | 2 | Fairness in Class Action Litigation and Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act of 2017 TITLE I--FAIRNESS IN CLASS ACTION LITIGATION Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2017 (Sec. 103) This bill amends the federal judicial code to prohibit federal courts from certifying class actions unless: in a class action seeking monetary relief for personal injury or economic loss, each proposed class member suffered the same type and scope of injury as the named class representatives; no class representatives or named plaintiffs are relatives of class counsel, except in a private securities litigation brought as a class action subject to the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and in a class action seeking monetary relief, the party seeking to maintain the class action demonstrates a reliable and administratively feasible mechanism for the court to determine whether putative class members fall within the class definition and for the distribution of any monetary relief directly to a substantial majority of class members. Class counsel must disclose: (1) whether any proposed class representatives or named plaintiffs are relatives of, present or former employees or clients of, or contractually related to class counsel; (2) the circumstances under which such representatives or plaintiffs agreed to be included in the complaint; and (3) any other class action in which such representatives and plaintiffs have a similar role. The bill limits attorney's fees to a reasonable percentage of: (1) any payments received by class members, and (2) the value of any equitable relief. No attorney's fees based on monetary relief may: (1) be paid until distribution of the monetary recovery to class members has been completed, or (2) exceed the total amount distributed to and received by all class members. Class counsel must submit to the Federal Judicial Center and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts an accounting of the disbursement of funds paid by defendants in class action settlements. The … | 2023-01-11T13:34:55Z | |
| 115-hr-969 | 115 | hr | 969 | Gideon Act | Law | 2017-02-07 | 2017-03-09 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. | House | Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18] | NY | D | M001185 | 2 | Clarence Gideon Full Access to Justice Act or the Gideon Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish a private, nonmembership, nonprofit corporation to assist and advocate on behalf of individuals in certain noncapital criminal cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and the highest state court. | 2023-01-11T13:34:56Z | |
| 115-hres-105 | 115 | hres | 105 | Expressing the Sense of the House of Representatives that an Independent Judiciary is Fundamental to American Democracy. | Law | 2017-02-07 | 2017-02-07 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] | NY | D | N000002 | 56 | Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches are co-equal; an independent judiciary is fundamental to the checks and balances embodied by the separation of powers, is essential to maintaining respect for the rule of law, and is critical to our constitutional democracy; attacks against the judiciary threaten to weaken public confidence in the courts; and it is inappropriate for sitting Presidents or other government officials to engage in ad hominem attacks against a judge, to otherwise place political pressure designed to undermine the independence of that judge, or to erode trust in the court system. | 2023-01-11T13:34:54Z | |
| 115-s-330 | 115 | s | 330 | Gideon Act | Law | 2017-02-07 | 2017-02-07 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] | NJ | D | B001288 | 0 | Clarence Gideon Full Access to Justice Act or the Gideon Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish a private, nonmembership, nonprofit corporation to assist and advocate on behalf of individuals in certain noncapital criminal cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and the highest state court. | 2023-01-11T13:34:49Z | |
| 115-s-333 | 115 | s | 333 | Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-02-07 | 2017-02-07 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK] | OK | R | L000575 | 9 | Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017 This bill prohibits federal government officials from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement on behalf of the United States (resolving a civil action, a plea agreement, a deferred prosecution agreement, or a nonprosecution agreement) that provides for a payment or loan to any person or entity other than the United States. The bill provides exceptions to allow payments or loans that: (1) remedy actual harm (including to the environment) caused by the party making the payment or loan, or (2) constitute a payment for services rendered in connection with the case or a payment that a court may order for restitution to victims in certain criminal cases or other persons in plea agreements. Federal government officials or agents who violate this prohibition may be removed from office or required to forfeit to the government any money they hold for such purposes to which they may otherwise be entitled. Federal agencies must report annually for seven years to the Congressional Budget Office about the parties, funding sources, and distribution of funds for their settlement agreements permitted by the exceptions in this bill. Agency inspectors general must report annually to Congress about any of their agency's settlement agreements that violate this bill. | 2023-01-11T13:34:48Z | |
| 115-hr-832 | 115 | hr | 832 | Arbitration Transparency Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-02-02 | 2017-03-02 | Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law. | House | Rep. Capuano, Michael E. [D-MA-7] | MA | D | C001037 | 0 | Arbitration Transparency Act of 2017 This bill specifies that an arbitration proceeding between a consumer and a financial institution, in a dispute involving a consumer financial product or service, must be open to the public. | 2023-01-11T13:35:01Z | |
| 115-s-276 | 115 | s | 276 | Judicial Administration and Improvement Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-02-02 | 2017-02-02 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S657) | Senate | Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ] | AZ | R | F000444 | 2 | Judicial Administration and Improvement Act of 2017 This bill divides the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit into: (1) a new Ninth Circuit, to be composed of California, Hawaii, Oregon, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands; and (2) a newly established Twelfth Circuit, to be composed of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington. Precedent from the former Ninth Circuit shall not be binding on the Twelfth Circuit. The bill designates locations where the new circuits are to hold regular sessions. The bill distributes active circuit judges of the former Ninth Circuit to the new circuits. Circuit judges and senior circuit judges currently stationed in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, or Washington may elect their circuit assignment. For each circuit judge in regular service who elects to be assigned to the new Ninth Circuit, the President shall appoint one additional circuit judge for the Twelfth Circuit. | 2023-01-11T13:34:50Z | |
| 115-s-295 | 115 | s | 295 | Circuit Court of Appeals Restructuring and Modernization Act | Law | 2017-02-02 | 2017-02-02 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] | MT | R | D000618 | 2 | Circuit Court of Appeals Restructuring and Modernization Act This bill divides the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit into: (1) a new Ninth Circuit, to be composed of California, Guam, Hawaii, and Northern Mariana Islands; and (2) a newly established Twelfth Circuit, to be composed of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The President must appoint five additional judges for the new Ninth Circuit and two additional temporary judges for the former Ninth Circuit. The bill designates the locations where the new circuits are to hold regular sessions. The Circuit Executive and the Clerk of the Court of the Twelfth Circuit shall be located in Phoenix, Arizona. The bill distributes active circuit judges of the former Ninth Circuit to the new circuits. Senior circuit judges of the former Ninth Circuit may elect their circuit assignment. The bill authorizes the temporary assignment of circuit and district judges of the former Ninth Circuit between the new circuits. | 2023-01-11T13:34:50Z | |
| 115-s-296 | 115 | s | 296 | Federal Courts of Appeals Modernization Act | Law | 2017-02-02 | 2017-02-02 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] | AK | R | S001198 | 2 | Federal Courts of Appeals Modernization Act This bill establishes a Commission on Structural Alternatives for the Federal Courts of Appeals to: (1) study the present division of the U.S. courts of appeals, with particular references to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; and (2) submit to the President and Congress recommendations for changes in circuit boundaries or structure for the expeditious and effective disposition of the caseload of such courts. The commission shall be composed of five members appointed by the Chief Justice of the United States. | 2023-01-11T13:34:50Z | |
| 115-s-259 | 115 | s | 259 | No Stolen Trademarks Honored in America Act | Law | 2017-02-01 | 2017-02-01 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL] | FL | D | N000032 | 4 | No Stolen Trademarks Honored in America Act This bill amends the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 to prohibit U.S. courts from recognizing, enforcing, or otherwise validating any assertion of rights by an individual (under current law, by a designated Cuban national) of a mark, trade name, or commercial name that was used in connection with a business or assets that were confiscated by the Cuban government unless the original owner of such mark or name, or such owner's bona fide successor, has expressly consented. The bill applies such prohibition only if the individual asserting the rights knew or had reason to know at the time of acquiring the rights asserted that the mark or name was the same or substantially similar to the mark or name used in connection with the business or assets that were confiscated. | 2023-01-11T13:34:51Z | |
| 115-hr-720 | 115 | hr | 720 | Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-01-30 | 2017-03-13 | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] | TX | R | S000583 | 7 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the sanctions provisions in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Any sanction must compensate parties injured by the conduct in question. The bill removes a provision that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets. Courts may impose additional sanctions, including striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, nonmonetary directives, or penalty payments if warranted for effective deterrence. | 2023-01-11T13:34:15Z | |
| 115-hr-725 | 115 | hr | 725 | Innocent Party Protection Act | Law | 2017-01-30 | 2017-03-13 | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Buck, Ken [R-CO-4] | CO | R | B001297 | 5 | (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.) Innocent Party Protection Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends procedures under which federal courts determine whether a case that was removed from a state court to a federal court on the basis of a diversity of citizenship among the parties may be remanded back to state court upon a motion opposed on fraudulent joinder grounds that: (1) one or more defendants are citizens of the same state as one or more plaintiffs, or (2) one or more defendants properly joined and served are citizens of the state in which the action was brought. Joinder of such a defendant is fraudulent if the court finds: actual fraud in the pleading of jurisdictional facts with respect to that defendant, state law would not plausibly impose liability on that defendant, state or federal law bars all claims in the complaint against that defendant, or no good faith intention to prosecute the action against that defendant or to seek a joint judgment including that defendant. In determining whether to grant or deny such a motion for remand, the court: (1) may permit pleadings to be amended; and (2) must consider the pleadings, affidavits, and other evidence submitted by the parties. A federal court finding that all such defendants have been fraudulently joined must: (1) dismiss without prejudice the claims against those defendants, and (2) deny the motion for remand. | 2023-01-11T13:34:15Z | |
| 115-hr-732 | 115 | hr | 732 | Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-01-30 | 2017-10-25 | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | House | Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] | VA | R | G000289 | 34 | Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017 (Sec. 2) This bill prohibits government officials from entering into or enforcing a settlement agreement on behalf of the United States (resolving a civil action, a plea agreement, a deferred prosecution agreement, or a nonprosecution agreement) that provides for a payment or a loan to any person or entity other than the United States. The bill provides exceptions to allow payments or loans that: (1) remedy actual harm (including to the environment) caused by the party making the payment or loan and suffered by the payee, or (2) constitute a payment for services rendered in connection with the case or a payment that a court may order for restitution to victims in certain criminal cases or other persons in plea agreements. Amounts remaining after all claims have been satisfied must be repaid proportionally to each party who contributed to the original payment. Government officials or agents who violate this prohibition may be removed from office or required to forfeit to the government any money they hold for such purposes to which they may otherwise be entitled. Federal agencies must report annually for seven years to the Congressional Budget Office about the parties, funding sources, and distribution of funds for their settlement agreements permitted by the exceptions in this bill. Agency inspectors general must report annually to Congress about any of their agency's settlement agreements that violate this bill. | 2023-01-11T13:34:15Z | |
| 115-s-237 | 115 | s | 237 | Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-01-30 | 2017-11-08 | Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held. | Senate | Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] | IA | R | G000386 | 1 | Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 This bill amends the sanctions provisions in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Any sanction must compensate parties injured by the conduct in question. The bill removes a provision that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets. Courts may impose additional sanctions, including striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, nonmonetary directives, or penalty payments if warranted for effective deterrence. | 2023-01-11T13:35:20Z | |
| 115-hr-684 | 115 | hr | 684 | Every Child is a Blessing Act of 2017 | Law | 2017-01-24 | 2017-02-14 | Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice. | House | Rep. Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS-4] | MS | R | P000601 | 3 | Every Child is a Blessing Act of 2017 This bill prohibits recovery of damages in certain civil actions based on a claim that, but for the conduct of the defendant, a child, once conceived, would not or should not have been born. The prohibition applies to claims based on a child's disability, defect, abnormality, race, sex, or other inborn characteristic. The bill bars such prohibition from being construed to: (1) provide a defense against charges of intentional misrepresentation in state proceedings regulating the professional practices of health care providers and practitioners; (2) provide a defense in any criminal action, including cases of rape or incest; or (3) limit damages in cases where the conduct of the defendant caused personal injury or death to the child or gestational mother. | 2023-01-11T13:34:17Z | |
| 115-s-209 | 115 | s | 209 | A bill to authorize an additional district judgeship for the district of Idaho. | Law | 2017-01-24 | 2017-01-24 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID] | ID | R | C000880 | 1 | This bill requires the President to appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, one additional district judge for the district of Idaho. | 2023-01-11T13:35:21Z | |
| 115-s-182 | 115 | s | 182 | Court-Appointed Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act | Law | 2017-01-20 | 2017-01-20 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. | Senate | Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] | MN | D | K000367 | 2 | Court-Appointed Guardian Accountability and Senior Protection Act This bill amends title XX (Block Grants to States for Social Services and Elder Justice) of the Social Security Act to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to the highest courts of states to conduct demonstration programs that: (1) assess adult guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, including the appointment and the monitoring of the performance of court-appointed guardians and conservators; and (2) implement changes deemed necessary as a result of the assessments, such as requiring background checks for all potential guardians and conservators, and establishing systems that enable electronic filing and review of the annual accountings and other required conservatorship and guardianship filings. The highest court of a state awarded such a grant shall collaborate with the state's own Unit on Aging and its Adult Protective Services agency in conducting the demonstration program. | 2023-01-11T13:35:22Z |
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CREATE TABLE legislation (
bill_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
congress INTEGER,
bill_type TEXT,
bill_number INTEGER,
title TEXT,
policy_area TEXT,
introduced_date TEXT,
latest_action_date TEXT,
latest_action_text TEXT,
origin_chamber TEXT,
sponsor_name TEXT,
sponsor_state TEXT,
sponsor_party TEXT,
sponsor_bioguide_id TEXT,
cosponsor_count INTEGER DEFAULT 0,
summary_text TEXT,
update_date TEXT,
url TEXT
);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_congress ON legislation(congress);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_type ON legislation(bill_type);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_policy ON legislation(policy_area);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_date ON legislation(introduced_date);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_sponsor ON legislation(sponsor_name);
CREATE INDEX idx_leg_sponsor_bioguide ON legislation(sponsor_bioguide_id);