HR 1115 108th Congress House

Class Action Fairness Act of 2003

Official title: To amend the procedures that apply to consideration of interstate class actions to assure fairer outcomes for class members and defendants, to outlaw certain p… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the procedures that apply to consideration of interstate class actions to assure fairer outcomes for class members and defendants, to outlaw certain practices that provide inadequate settlements for class members, to assure that attorneys do not receive a disproportionate amount of settlements at the expense of class members, to provide for clearer and simpler information in class action settlement notices, to assure prompt consideration of interstate class actions, to amend title 28, United States Code, to allow the application of the principles of Federal diversity jurisdiction to interstate class actions, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 9, 2003 See on congress.gov

Law Appellate courtsAppellate procedureCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesClass actions (Civil procedure)

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Everywhere this bill has been 33 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jun 12, 2003

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Jun 12, 2003

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Jun 12, 2003

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 253 - 170 (Roll no. 272).

Jun 12, 2003

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 185 - 240 (Roll no. 271).

Jun 12, 2003

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

Jun 12, 2003

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Weiner motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill be reported back to the House with amendments which change the effective date of the bill and also, strike section 6 of the bill (APPEALS OF CLASS ACTION CERTIFICATION ORDERS).

Jun 12, 2003

Mr. Weiner moved to recommit with instructions to Judiciary. (consideration: CR H5405-5406; text: CR H5305)

Jun 12, 2003

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.

Jun 12, 2003

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

Jun 12, 2003

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1115.

Jun 12, 2003

ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS - The Chair announced that proceedings will resume on the following amendments postponed earlier today in the following order: Amendment offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, amendment offered by Ms. Lofgren, and amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Sandlin.

Jun 12, 2003

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Sandlin amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Sandlin demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until later in the legislative day.

Jun 12, 2003

DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 269 the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Sandlin amendment.

Jun 12, 2003

POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Lofgren amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Lofgren demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until later in the legislative day.

Jun 12, 2003

DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 269 the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lofgren amendment.

Jun 12, 2003

POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson-Lee amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson-Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until later in the legislative day.

Jun 12, 2003

DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 269 the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson-Lee amendment.

Jun 12, 2003

DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 269 the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Sensenbrenner amendment.

Jun 12, 2003

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1115.

Jun 12, 2003

The Speaker designated the Honorable Steven C. LaTourette to act as Chairman of the Committee.

Jun 12, 2003

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 269 and Rule XXIII.

Jun 12, 2003

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1115 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

Jun 12, 2003

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 269. (consideration: CR H5271-5307)

Jun 12, 2003

Rule H. Res. 269 passed House.

Jun 11, 2003

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 269 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1115 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

Jun 9, 2003

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 73.

Jun 9, 2003

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-144.

May 21, 2003

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 14.

May 21, 2003

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

May 15, 2003

Committee Hearings Held.

Mar 6, 2003

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Mar 6, 2003

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E405-406)

Mar 6, 2003

Introduced in House

Votes taken on this bill 2

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Jun 12, 2003	House · vote #272	On Passage	Passed	253–170	See who voted →
Jun 12, 2003	House · vote #271	On Motion to Recommit with Instructions	Failed	185–240	See who voted →

Amendments to this bill 5

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.

2 agreed to 3 failed

Amendment	Sponsor	Purpose	Status	Latest action
HAMDT 170	–	An amendment in the nature of a substitute numbered 4 printed in House Report 108-148. Section 1 of the amend…	Failed	Jun 12, 2003
HAMDT 169	Lofgren, Zoe	An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 108-148 to preserve the ability of local prosecutors to enfor…	Failed	Jun 12, 2003
HAMDT 168	–	An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 108-148 to prevent domestic corporations from not being subje…	Failed	Jun 12, 2003
HAMDT 167	–	An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 108-148, to slightly broaden the category of class action cas…	Agreed to	Jun 12, 2003
HAMDT 166	–	Amendment in the nature of a substitute.	Agreed to	Jun 12, 2003

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Latest action June 12, 2003

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Class Action Fairness Act of 2003 - Establishes a consumer class action bill of rights, including provision for: (1) judicial review and approval of noncash settlements; (2) protection against loss by class members because of payments to class counsel; (3) a prohibition against court approval of a proposed settlement providing for greater payments to class members because they are located in closer geographic proximity to the court; (4) a prohibition against court approval of a proposed settlement providing for payment of a greater share of the award to a class representative serving on behalf of a class; and (5) standardized settlement notification information.

Grants the district courts original jurisdiction of any civil action in which the matter in controversy exceeds $2 million, exclusive of interest and costs, and is a class action in which any member of a class of plaintiffs is: (1) a citizen of a State different from any defendant; (2) a foreign state or a citizen or subject of a foreign state and any defendant is a citizen of a State; or (3) a citizen of a State and any defendant is a foreign state or a citizen or subject of a foreign state. Lists exceptions.

Sets forth procedures for removal of interstate class actions to U.S. district court and for review of orders remanding class actions to State courts.

Grants the courts of appeals jurisdiction of appeals from orders of the U.S. district courts granting or denying class certification under rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure under specified circumstances.

Related & companion bills 4

Bill text 4 versions

Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF
Referred in Senate Formatted Text PDF
Reported in House Formatted Text PDF

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 2

Judiciary Committee
House of Representatives
Judiciary Committee
Senate

Cosponsors 7

Calvert, Ken

California · Jun 9, 2003

Mississippi · Jun 4, 2003

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APA

U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1115: Class Action Fairness Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1115/

MLA

"H.R. 1115: Class Action Fairness Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1115/.

Bluebook (legal)

H.R. 1115, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1115/.

Markdown link

[H.R. 1115: Class Action Fairness Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1115/)