Bill · S. 5511· Senate(119-S-5511)
Honest Services Fraud Improvement Act
- Introduced
- 9/24/2026
- Last activity
- 9/24/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Andy Kim
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Honest Services Fraud Improvement Act lets everyday citizens sue government officials who commit fraud and violate the public's right to honest services. Qualified plaintiffs are regular constituents who are not tied to political campaigns. When a citizen files a lawsuit under this law, the government gets a chance to step in and start a criminal prosecution instead. If the government declines to step in, the lawsuit can move forward in federal court. Successful plaintiffs can recover damages, including three times the value of any bribe, along with attorney fees and expenses.
Yes· 3 of 19
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+6
This bill empowers citizens to uncover and litigate government corruption and honest services fraud, increasing transparency and accountability.
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+3
This bill gives young adult citizens a mechanism to hold public officials accountable for corruption.
Would people in middle age be better off under this?+3
This bill allows middle-aged constituents to file civil actions against corrupt government officials.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(b) allows citizens to hold elected officials accountable by filing a civil lawsuit when an official engages in a scheme to defraud the public of honest services. This gives regular people a direct tool to fight government corruption.
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Section 2(e)(1)(A) provides that plaintiffs can be awarded compensatory damages and bribery damages equal to three times the value of any bribe solicited or accepted by the official. This heavily penalizes corrupt behavior and financially compensates for the wrongdoing.
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Section 2(e)(2) requires the liable defendant to pay reasonable expenses, attorney fees, and costs incurred by the plaintiff. This ensures that citizens are not financially ruined just for trying to hold public servants accountable.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 2(c)(2) states that a plaintiff may not proceed pro se, meaning they are barred from representing themselves. This forces individuals to hire a lawyer, which can add a significant financial barrier to filing a lawsuit.
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Section 2(c)(3) explicitly prohibits courts from enjoining any official action as a remedy. This means citizens cannot stop a harmful government action from moving forward through this specific type of lawsuit.
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 Business Owners+3Good For High Income Households+3Good For Hispanic Americans+3Good For Men+3Good For Middle Aged+3Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Native Americans+3Good For Retirees+3Good For Rural Residents+3Good For Seniors+3Good For Urban Residents+3Good For Veterans+3Good For White Americans+3Good For Women+3Good For Young Adults+3Good For Low Income Households+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+6
- 9/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey