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HR 2986 106th Congress House

State Initiative Fairness Act

Official title: To provide that an application for an injunction restraining the enforcement, operation, or execution of a State law adopted by referendum may not be granted o… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To provide that an application for an injunction restraining the enforcement, operation, or execution of a State law adopted by referendum may not be granted on the ground of the unconstitutionality of such law unless the application is heard and determined by a 3-judge court.

Introduced: September 30, 1999 See on congress.gov
Law Appellate courtsAppellate procedureConstitutional lawDistrict courts
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Government Operations and PoliticsInjunctionsJudgesJudicial reviewJurisdictionReferendumState lawsSupreme CourtSupreme Court jurisdiction
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This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 6, 1999
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property.
Oct 1, 1999
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2009)
Sep 30, 1999
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Sep 30, 1999
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 6, 1999

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
State Initiative Fairness Act - Prohibits a U.S. district court or judge thereof from granting any application for an interlocutory or permanent injunction restraining the enforcement, operation, or execution of a State law adopted by referendum upon the ground of unconstitutionality unless such application is heard and determined by a three-judge court. Requires, in any such case, the additional judges to be designated as soon as practicable and the court to expedite the consideration of the application for an injunction.

Requires any appeal of a determination on such application to be to the Supreme Court.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Republican 2
R
Calvert, Ken
California · Sep 30, 1999
CRANE, PHILIP
· Sep 30, 1999
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Sep 30, 1999
OSE, DOUG
· Sep 30, 1999
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2986: State Initiative Fairness Act. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-2986/
MLA
"H.R. 2986: State Initiative Fairness Act." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-2986/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2986, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-2986/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2986: State Initiative Fairness Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-2986/)
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