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HR 720 115th Congress House Law Civil actions and liability Judicial procedure and administration Lawyers and legal services Legal fees and court costs

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017

Introduced: January 30, 2017 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 28 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 13, 2017
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 10, 2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 10, 2017
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 188 (Roll no. 158). (text: CR H2030)
Mar 10, 2017
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 186 - 232 (Roll no. 157).
Mar 10, 2017
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
Mar 10, 2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back with an amendment to add a section at the end of the bill prohibiting language to be construed to apply to a civil action that implicates the foreign emoluments clause of the United States Constitution.
Mar 10, 2017
Ms. Lofgren moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H2039)
Mar 10, 2017
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Mar 10, 2017
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 720.
Mar 10, 2017
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
Mar 10, 2017
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jeffries amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Jeffries demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
Mar 10, 2017
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jeffries Part A amendment No. 4.
Mar 10, 2017
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Conyers amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Conyers demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
Mar 10, 2017
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Conyers Part A amendment No. 3.
Mar 10, 2017
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - 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 on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
Mar 10, 2017
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee Part A amendment No. 2.
Mar 10, 2017
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Soto amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Soto demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
Mar 10, 2017
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 180, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Soto Part A amendment No. 1.
Mar 10, 2017
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 720.
Mar 10, 2017
The Speaker designated the Honorable Evan H. Jenkins to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Mar 10, 2017
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 180 and Rule XVIII.
Mar 10, 2017
Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 720 and H.R. 985.
Mar 10, 2017
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 180. (consideration: CR H2025-2041)
Feb 24, 2017
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 4.
Feb 24, 2017
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-16.
Jan 31, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Jan 30, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 30, 2017
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Mar 10, 2017 House · vote #158 On Passage Passed 230–188 See who voted →
Mar 10, 2017 House · vote #157 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions Failed 186–232 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 4

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.

4 failed

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 79 Jeffries, Hakeem S. Amendment sought to exempt actions pertaining to whistleblowers. Failed Mar 10, 2017
HAMDT 78 – Amendment sought to exempt from the bill civil actions alleging any violation of a constitutional or civil ri… Failed Mar 10, 2017
HAMDT 77 – Amendment sought to strike the provision mandating the award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs, restori… Failed Mar 10, 2017
HAMDT 76 Soto, Darren Amendment sought to reinstate the safe harbor provisions to allow parties to avoid penalties by withdrawing o… Failed Mar 10, 2017
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the sanctions provisions in Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require the court to impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm, or party that has violated, or is responsible for the violation of, the rule with regard to representations to the court. Any sanction must compensate parties injured by the conduct in question.

The bill removes a provision that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets.

Courts may impose additional sanctions, including striking the pleadings, dismissing the suit, nonmonetary directives, or penalty payments if warranted for effective deterrence.

What's happening now March 13, 2017

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

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HRES 180 Related bill Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 720) to amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to improve …
  • S 237 Identical bill Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Republican 1
R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Feb 14, 2017
Buck, Ken
· Jan 30, 2017
Chaffetz, Jason
· Jan 30, 2017
GOODLATTE, ROBERT
· Jan 30, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 720: Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-720/
MLA
"H.R. 720: Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-720/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 720, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-720/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 720: Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-720/)
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