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HR 7875 116th Congress House

Equal Opportunity First Amendment Act

Official title: To require States and units of local governments to enforce stay-at-home orders equally, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 30, 2020 Introduced by: Hern, Kevin Republican · Oklahoma See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Civil actions and liabilityEmergency planning and evacuationFirst Amendment rightsState and local government operations
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 30, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jul 30, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 30, 2020

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Equal Opportunity First Amendment Act

This bill requires states and local governments to enforce orders limiting public gatherings under emergency declarations equally.

Specifically, the bill (1) prohibits states and units of local government that issue orders that limit gatherings to a certain number of people pursuant to a national emergency or similar state emergency declaration from discriminating in the enforcement of such order, in the case of persons who are exercising a right protected under the First Amendment; and (2) authorizes a private right of action in U.S. district court by a person who is harmed by a violation of this provision.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 25
All 25 Republican 17
R
Calvert, Ken
California · Oct 23, 2020
 R
Gooden, Lance
Texas · Aug 14, 2020
 R
Davidson, Warren
Ohio · Aug 7, 2020
 R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · Jul 30, 2020
 R
Allen, Rick W.
Georgia · Jul 30, 2020
 R
Babin, Brian
Texas · Jul 30, 2020
 R
Baird, James R.
Indiana · Jul 30, 2020
 R
Banks, Jim
Indiana · Jul 30, 2020
Bishop, Dan
· Jul 30, 2020
 R
Budd, Ted
North Carolina · Jul 30, 2020
 R
Cline, Ben
Virginia · Jul 30, 2020
Duncan, Jeff
· Jul 30, 2020
Flores, Bill
· Jul 30, 2020
Gibbs, Bob
· Jul 30, 2020
Gohmert, Louie
· Jul 30, 2020
 R
Green, Mark E.
Texas · Jul 30, 2020
 R
Griffith, H. Morgan
Virginia · Jul 30, 2020
 R
Guest, Michael
Mississippi · Jul 30, 2020
Hice, Jody
· Jul 30, 2020
Lamborn, Doug
· Jul 30, 2020
 R
Meuser, Daniel
Pennsylvania · Jul 30, 2020
 R
Norman, Ralph
South Carolina · Jul 30, 2020
Roe, David
· Jul 30, 2020
 R
Steube, W. Gregory
Florida · Jul 30, 2020
 R
Timmons, William R.
South Carolina · Jul 30, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 7875: Equal Opportunity First Amendment Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7875/
MLA
"H.R. 7875: Equal Opportunity First Amendment Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7875/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 7875, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7875/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 7875: Equal Opportunity First Amendment Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7875/)
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