S. 59

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To end the practice of including more than one subject in a single bill by requiring that each bill enacted by Congress be limited to only one subject, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · January 9, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Paul · Committee: Committee on Rules and Administration

Table of contents

• S. 59
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. One subject at a time
  • SEC. 3. Enforcement

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the One Subject at a Time Act.

SEC. 2. One subject at a time

• (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 to a provision of existing law, the subject of which is not germane to the subject matter of each such appropriations bill. This section shall not be construed to prohibit any provision imposing limitations upon the expenditure of funds so appropriated.

SEC. 3. Enforcement

• (a) Multiple subjects in title
  • If the title of an Act or joint resolution addresses two or more unrelated subjects, the entire Act or joint resolution is void.
• (b) Provisions not expressed in title
  • If the title of an Act or joint resolution addresses a single subject, but the Act contains one or more provisions concerning a subject that is not clearly and descriptively expressed in its title, only such provision or provisions concerning the subject not clearly and descriptively expressed in the title 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 of Representatives and of the Senate, and therefore outside the subject of the bill, such provision shall be void.
• (d) Provisions of appropriation bills not germane to subject matter
  • If an Act appropriating funds contains a provision of general legislation or a change of a provision of existing law not germane to the subject matter of such bill, such provision shall be void.
• (e) Commencement of an action
  • Any person aggrieved by the enforcement of, or attempt or threat of enforcement of, an Act passed without having complied with section 2 or this section, or any Member of Congress aggrieved by the failure of the House of Congress of which that individual is a member to comply with any requirement of those sections, shall, regardless of the amount in controversy, 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.
• (f) State of review
  • In any judicial action brought pursuant to subsection (e), the standard of review shall be de novo.