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HR 1115 108th Congress House Law Appellate courts Appellate procedure Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Class actions (Civil procedure) Congress Congressional reporting requirements Damages Discovery (Law) Discrimination District courts Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Injunctions Judicial review Jurisdiction Legal advertising and soliciting Legal fees Limitation of actions Newspapers

Class Action Fairness Act of 2003

Introduced: March 6, 2003 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) 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 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
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–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

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest 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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 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.

What's happening now June 12, 2003

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

 Related & companion bills 4
  • S 274 Related bill Class Action Fairness Act of 2003
  • S 1751 Related bill Class Action Fairness Act of 2003
  • S 2062 Related bill Class Action Fairness Act of 2004
  • HRES 269 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1115) to amend the procedures that apply to consideration of interstate c…
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Republican 3
R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jun 9, 2003
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Jun 9, 2003
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · Jun 4, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
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/)
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