One Subject at a Time Act

House Votes

This bill would require every bill or joint resolution in Congress to cover only one topic, and that topic must be clearly shown in the title. It aims to stop unrelated add-ons, especially in spending bills. Spending bills could still include limits on how the money is used, but not other, off-topic changes to law.

If a law’s title covers two or more unrelated topics, the whole law would be void. If a law has extra parts that aren’t clearly tied to the title’s topic, only those parts would be void. For spending bills, any piece that’s outside the relevant Appropriations subcommittee’s area or not related to the bill’s subject would be void. People and organizations who are hurt by a law that didn’t follow these rules could sue the United States to stop it from being enforced, and courts could grant relief, including an order blocking enforcement. The official summary explains these rules in the same way, including the right to sue if a noncompliant law is enforced.

Key points

• Who is affected: Congress (must write one-topic bills); people and organizations (can challenge noncompliant laws).
• What changes: One-subject rule; clear titles; no unrelated items in spending bills; unrelated parts or entire laws can be voided; right to sue to block enforcement .