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HR 5175 106th Congress House

Small Business Liability Relief Act

Official title: To provide relief to small businesses from liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980.

Introduced: September 25, 2000 See on congress.gov
Environmental Protection Civil actions and liabilityCommerceGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperwork
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Hazardous waste disposalHazardous waste site remediationHousehold hazardous wastesLawLegal feesLiability for toxic substances pollution damagesLimitation of actionsMunicipal solid wasteSmall businessSubpoenaTax-exempt organizationsTaxationTransportation and Public WorksTransportation of hazardous substances
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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 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 26, 2000
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 253 - 161 (Roll no. 494). (text: CR H8123-8125)
Sep 26, 2000
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8154)
Sep 26, 2000
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Sep 26, 2000
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5175.
Sep 26, 2000
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8123-8132)
Sep 26, 2000
Mr. Oxley moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Sep 15, 2000
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Sep 14, 2000
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sep 14, 2000
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1488)
Sep 14, 2000
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Sep 26, 2000 House · vote #494 Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Failed 253–161 See who voted →
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 Latest action September 26, 2000

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 253 - 161 (Roll no. 494). (text: CR H8123-8125)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Small Business Liability Relief Act - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to provide that certain small businesses shall be liable for response costs as non-owners or operators only if the total of material containing a hazardous substance that the business arranged for disposal, transport, or treatment of, or accepted for transport, was greater than 110 pounds of liquid material or 200 pounds of solid material. Makes such exemption to liability inapplicable in cases where the substance could contribute significantly to response costs or where the business has failed to comply with an administrative subpoena or request for information or has impeded a response action. Applies this exemption only to activities taking place before this Act's enactment date.

Makes a person liable for response costs for municipal solid waste (MSW) as a non-owner or operator only if the person is not an owner, operator, or lessee of residential property from which all of the person's MSW was generated, or a certain small business or tax-exempt organization that generated all its MSW, with respect to the facility concerned. Provides for liability if a person has failed to comply with an administrative subpoena or request for information or has impeded a response action.

Makes persons that commence a contribution action liable to the defendant for all reasonable costs of defending the action if the defendant is not liable based on the above- described exemptions.

Adds to the list of parties eligible for expedited final settlements certain persons and small businesses that demonstrate an inability or limited ability to pay response costs.

Revises conditions of eligibility for such settlements for de minimis parties.

Establishes a moratorium on litigation under CERCLA for recovery or contribution of response costs from any person eligible for an expedited settlement within a specified time frame.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 6
All 6 Democratic 1
D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Sep 25, 2000
SANDLIN, MAX
· Sep 25, 2000
TURNER, JIM
· Sep 25, 2000
GREENWOOD, JAMES
· Sep 14, 2000
LIPINSKI, WILLIAM
· Sep 14, 2000
STENHOLM, CHARLES
· Sep 14, 2000
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5175: Small Business Liability Relief Act. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-5175/
MLA
"H.R. 5175: Small Business Liability Relief Act." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-5175/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5175, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-5175/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5175: Small Business Liability Relief Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-5175/)
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