Bill · S. 55· Senate(119-S-55)
Read the Bills Act
- Introduced
- 1/9/2025
- Last activity
- 1/9/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- Sponsored by
- Rand Paul
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Read the Bills Act" aims to preserve congressional authority and increase legislative transparency. It requires all new bills and resolutions to include the specific constitutional power used to enact them. Additionally, any bill intended to modify current law must present the existing text alongside the proposed changes. The Act mandates that the full text of a bill be published online at least seven days before a vote occurs. It also requires a verbatim reading of the bill's text to the assembled House or Senate. Finally, members must sign an affidavit stating they either listened to the full reading or read the text themselves before voting for passage.
Yes· 3 of 24
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+10
The bill mandates that full bill texts be published online seven days before a vote in a machine-readable format to increase public access.
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+5
The bill provides legal standing for citizens to challenge the enforcement of laws that failed to meet specified legislative transparency requirements.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+3
The increased transparency may help low-income populations better understand legislative changes that affect their lives.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency and Notice: The bill requires the full text of a bill to be published on official websites at least 7 days before a vote, making it available to the public in a machine-readable format (Section 105c(a)(1)(A)).
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Clearer Legislative Intent: By requiring bills to cite specific constitutional powers, the law aims to ensure every act of Congress is grounded in its enumerated authority (Section 105a(a)(1)).
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Easier Comparison of Laws: For bills that change existing laws, the act requires the inclusion of the current law's text verbatim alongside the proposed changes, allowing for a clear view of what is being modified (Section 105b(a)(1)).
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Enhanced Member Accountability: Requors Members of Congress to sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury attesting that they have listened to or read the entire bill before voting for its passage (Section 105c(b)(1)).
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Legal Recourse for Non-Compliance: The act provides standing for aggrieved persons, Members of Congress, or citizens to bring legal action if a law is passed without following these new transparency and procedural rules (Section 105d(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Risk of Legal Nullification: Any Act of Congress that fails to comply with the new procedural or citation requirements will have no force or effect, meaning it cannot be enforced (Section 105d(a)).
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Increased Litigation: The provision creates a cause of action that allows various individuals to sue the United States to seek injunctions against the enforcement of laws that did not meet the new standards (Section 105d(b)).
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+3Good For Asian Americans+3Good For Farmers+3Good For Gun Owners+3Good For High Income Households+3Good For Hispanic Americans+3Good For Immigrants+3Good For L G B T Q Community+3Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Men+3Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Native Americans+3Good For People With Disabilities+3Good For Retirees+3Good For Rural Residents+3Good For Students+3Good For Union Workers+3Good For Urban Residents+3Good For Veterans+3Good For White Americans+3Good For Women+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+10Improves Due Process+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Voting Rights+2
- 1/9/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- Introduced in Senate