Bill · H.R. 4161· House(119-HR-4161)
Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 6/26/2025
- Last activity
- 6/26/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Sean Casten
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act of 2025 aims to prohibit United States courts from awarding damages based on a plaintiff's projected future earning potential that considers race, ethnicity, or sex. This includes gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and sex characteristics. To support this, the Secretary of Labor is tasked with developing guidance for inclusive future earnings tables. The bill also requires studies by the Judicial Conference of the United States and the Administrative Office of the United States Courts regarding damages and age or disability calculations. Additionally, the Federal Judicial Center will provide training for federal judges on implementing these new standards.
Yes· 3 of 13
Would Black Americans be better off under this?+5
Prohibiting race-based earnings calculations aims to reduce economic bias.
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?+5
Prohibiting ethnicity-based earnings calculations aims to reduce economic bias.
Would Asian Americans be better off under this?+5
Prohibiting race-based earnings calculations aims to reduce economic bias.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Development of unbiased economic data: The Secretary of Labor will develop guidance to help forensic economists create inclusive future earnings tables that do not rely on race, ethnicity, gender, or perceived sexual orientation (Section 4).
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Guidance for State proceedings: The Secretary of Labor and the Attorney General will develop guidance to help states make future earnings calculations in tort proceedings free of bias regarding race, ethnicity, and sex (Section 4).
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Preservation of civil rights protections: The act clarifies that courts are not denied the ability to order damages based on a plaintiff being a member of a protected class for the purposes of Federal civil rights laws (Section 3(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Restrictions on damage calculations: Courts are prohibited from using calculations for projected future earning potential that take into account the actual or perceived race, ethnicity, or sex of a plaintiff, including gender identity and sexual orientation (Section 3(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For African Americans+5Good For Asian Americans+5Good For Hispanic Americans+5Good For L G B T Q Community+5Good For Native Americans+5Good For Women+5Good For Low Income Households+3Good For People With Disabilities+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Gender Equality+5Improves L G B T Q Rights+5Improves Racial Equity+5Improves Disability Rights+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+2
- 6/30/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/26/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia