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HR 1534 105th Congress House Law Administrative remedies Appellate courts Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil rights enforcement Claims Constitutional law Courts of special jurisdiction Damages District courts Eminent domain Government Operations and Politics Government liability Government paperwork Judicial review of administrative acts Jurisdiction Land use Legal fees Limitation of actions Public Lands and Natural Resources

Citizens Access to Justice Act of 1998

Introduced: September 26, 1997 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 43 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 8, 1998
By Senator Hatch from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 105-242. Minority views filed.
Feb 26, 1998
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 316.
Feb 26, 1998
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Feb 26, 1998
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Nov 13, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Oct 23, 1997
Received in the Senate.
Oct 22, 1997
The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 1534.
Oct 22, 1997
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Oct 22, 1997
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 248 - 178 (Roll no. 519).
Oct 22, 1997
On motion to recommit Failed by voice vote. (consideration: CR H8963)
Oct 22, 1997
The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered without objection.
Oct 22, 1997
Ms. Lofgren moved to recommit to Judiciary.
Oct 22, 1997
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Oct 22, 1997
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Oct 22, 1997
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1534.
Oct 22, 1997
Motion to strike the enacting clause withdrawn.
Oct 22, 1997
DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes on the Frank motion.
Oct 22, 1997
Mr. Frank (MA) moved to strike the enacting clause.
Oct 22, 1997
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 271, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 30 minutes of debate on the Boehlert amendment.
Oct 22, 1997
DEBATE - Pursuant to an earlier order of the House, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Traficant amendment.
Oct 22, 1997
The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
Oct 22, 1997
Mr. Coble asked unanimous consent that it be in order to consider in the Committee of the Whole, an amendment placed at the desk to be offered by Representative Traficant after disposition of a Conyers amendment, and that the amendment be debatable for ten minutes. Agreed to without objection.
Oct 22, 1997
Considered as unfinished business.
Oct 22, 1997
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1534 as unfinished business.
Oct 22, 1997
On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
Oct 22, 1997
Mr. Coble moved that the Committee rise.
Oct 22, 1997
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate.
Oct 22, 1997
The Speaker designated the Honorable Vince Snowbarger to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Oct 22, 1997
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 271 and Rule XXIII.
Oct 22, 1997
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1534 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be read by section. Specified amendments are in order. It shall be in order to consider the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill, modified by the amendments printed in Part 1 of the report accompanying this resolution. No amendment to the substitute, as modified, shall be in order except one amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Representative Conyers of Michigan, debatable for 30 minutes, and not subject to further amendment. If the Conyers amendment is rejected or not offered, no other amendment shall be in order except the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in Part 2 of the report accompanying this resolution, debatable for 30
Oct 22, 1997
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 271. (consideration: CR HR8940-8964)
Oct 22, 1997
Rule H. Res. 271 passed House.
Oct 21, 1997
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 271 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1534 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be read by section. Specified amendments are in order. It shall be in order to consider the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill, modified by the amendments printed in Part 1 of the report accompanying this resolution. No amendment to the substitute, as modified, shall be in order except one amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Representative Conyers of Michigan, debatable for 30 minutes, and not subject to further amendment. If the Conyers amendment is defeated or not offered, it shall be in order to consider an amendment printed in Part 2 of the report accompanying this resolution. for 30 minutes and
Oct 21, 1997
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 187.
Oct 21, 1997
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 105-323.
Oct 7, 1997
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 10.
Oct 7, 1997
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 30, 1997
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Sep 30, 1997
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 25, 1997
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jul 9, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property.
May 6, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 6, 1997
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Oct 22, 1997 House · vote #519 On Passage Passed 248178 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 2

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to 1 failed

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 434 An amendment in the nature of a substitute to delete the the language in the bill allowing a landowner to app… Failed Oct 22, 1997
HAMDT 433 An amendment to require that private landowners be notified of procedures available for obtaining compensatio… Agreed to Oct 22, 1997
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 1997 - Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that whenever a district court has jurisdiction in civil rights cases it shall not abstain from exercising or relinquishing its jurisdiction to a State court in an action where no claim of a violation of a State law, right, or privilege is alleged.

Authorizes the district court, in such cases that cannot be decided without resolution of a significant but unsettled question of State law, to certify such question to the highest appellate court of that State (and after the State appellate court resolves the question certified to it, the district court shall proceed with resolving the merits). Bars the district court from certifying a question of State law unless such question will significantly affect the merits of the injured party's Federal claim and is so unclear and obviously susceptible to a limiting construction as to render premature a decision on the merits of the constitutional or legal issue in the case.

Requires that any claim or action brought to redress the deprivation of a property right or privilege secured by the Constitution be ripe for adjudication by the district courts upon a final decision rendered by any person acting under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or territory of the United States, that causes actual and concrete injury to the party seeking redress.

Provides that any claim brought under provisions regarding the United States as defendant and regarding the jurisdiction of the Court of Federal Claims that is founded upon a property right or privilege secured by the Constitution, but allegedly infringed or taken by the United States, shall be ripe for adjudication upon a final decision rendered by the United States that causes actual and concrete injury to the party seeking redress.

Sets guidelines for what constitutes a "final decision" for purposes of this Act.

What's happening now July 8, 1998

By Senator Hatch from Committee on Judiciary filed written report. Report No. 105-242. Minority views filed.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1534: Citizens Access to Justice Act of 1998. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1534/
MLA
"H.R. 1534: Citizens Access to Justice Act of 1998." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1534/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1534, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1534/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1534: Citizens Access to Justice Act of 1998](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1534/)
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