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This bill would require that every bill or joint resolution passed by Congress focus on just one subject, and that the subject be clearly stated in the bill’s title. It aims to stop measures that mix unrelated topics or hide new laws inside spending bills. For money bills, it says they should not carry general law changes that are unrelated to the spending topic, though they may limit how the money is spent. If a law’s title covers multiple unrelated topics, or if the law contains parts not reflected in its title, those parts (or the whole law in some cases) would be invalid. The bill also says that if a spending law includes provisions outside the specific jurisdiction of the relevant appropriations subcommittee, those parts are void. People who are harmed by the enforcement or threatened enforcement of laws that break these rules — including members of Congress — could go to court to ask for an injunction to stop the law from being enforced, but only for laws signed after this bill becomes law. Courts would review such challenges afresh, without deferring to lawmakers’ judgments.
- Every bill must cover only one subject and the title must clearly describe that subject.
- Spending bills cannot include unrelated general laws or changes to existing law; provisions outside an appropriations subcommittee’s jurisdiction are invalid.
- If a law’s title addresses multiple unrelated subjects or contains provisions not in the title, those parts (or the whole law) can be declared void.
- Anyone harmed, including Members of Congress, can sue to block enforcement of laws passed after this act takes effect; courts will review those cases anew.
Official Summaries
One Bill, One Subject Transparency Act
This bill prohibits any bill or joint resolution from addressing more than one subject and establishes related enforcement mechanisms.
The bill requires bills and joint resolutions to address only one subject, which must be clearly and descriptively expressed in the bill or joint resolution's title. Appropriations bills may only contain provisions that are germane to the subject matter of the underlying bill. However, appropriations bills may limit the expenditure of appropriated funds.
The bill voids
- any act (i.e., law) or joint resolution with a title that addresses two or more unrelated subjects;
- any provision of an act or joint resolution concerning a subject that is not clearly and descriptively expressed in the title;
- any provision of an appropriations act that contains general legislation or change of existing law provision not germane to the subject matter of the underlying bill;
- any provision of an appropriations act that addresses a subject outside of the jurisdiction of the relevant subcommittee of the Committees on Appropriations of the House and of the Senate.
The bill also authorizes any person aggrieved by the enforcement or threat of enforcement of an act enacted after this bill that does not comply with the requirements of this bill to sue the United States.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 95 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 95
To require that each bill enacted by Congress be limited to only one
subject, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. Biggs of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require that each bill enacted by Congress be limited to only one
subject, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``One Bill, One Subject Transparency
Act''.
SEC. 2. ONE SUBJECT PER BILL.
(a) One Subject.--Each bill or joint resolution shall embrace no
more than one subject.
(b) Subject in Title.--The subject of a bill or joint resolution
shall be clearly and descriptively expressed in the title.
(c) Appropriation Bills.--An appropriations bill shall not contain
any general legislation or change of existing law provision which is
not germane to the subject matter of the underlying bill. This
subsection does not prohibit any provision imposing limitations upon
the expenditure of appropriated funds.
SEC. 3. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Multiple Subjects in Title.--If the title of an Act or joint
resolution addresses two or more unrelated subjects, then the entire
Act or joint resolution is void.
(b) Provisions Not Expressed in Title.--If an Act or joint
resolution contains provisions concerning a subject that is not clearly
and descriptively expressed in its title, those provisions shall be
void.
(c) Appropriation Provisions Outside Subcommittee Jurisdiction.--If
an Act appropriating funds contains a provision outside of the
jurisdiction of the relevant subcommittee of the Committees on
Appropriations of the House and of the Senate, and therefore outside
the subject of the bill, then such provision shall be void.
(d) Provisions of Appropriations Bills Not Germane to Subject
Matter.--If an Act appropriating funds contains general legislation or
change of existing law provision not germane to the subject matter of
the underlying bill, then every such provision shall be void.
(e) Commencement of an Action.--Any person, including a Member of
the House of Representatives or a Member of the Senate, aggrieved by
the enforcement or threat of enforcement of Acts that do not comply
with section 2 shall have a cause of action under sections 2201 and
2202 of title 28, United States Code, against the United States to seek
appropriate relief, including an injunction against the enforcement of
any law, the passage of which did not conform to section 2 or this
section. The cause of action only applies to an Act or joint resolution
signed into law on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
(f) State of Review.--In any judicial action brought pursuant to
subsection (e), the standard of review shall be de novo.
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