Bills
H.R.720

H.R.720: Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017

Read the bill

About This Bill

Introduced Jan. 30, 2017
Latest Major Action March 13, 2017
See the five similar bills introduced in other congresses.

Bill Sponsor

Lamar Smith (R-Texas)

Bill Cosponsors

7 (All Republicans)

Bill Versions

Referred in Senate - March 13, 2017
Engrossed in House - March 10, 2017
Reported in House - Feb. 24, 2017
Introduced in House - Jan. 30, 2017

Bill Summary

(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...

(Source: Library of Congress)

What Lawmakers Are Saying About This Bill

There are 12 statements associated with H.R.720.

See statements

Congressional Budget Office Estimate

The Congressional Budget Office has produced a cost estimate for H.R.720.

See estimate

Bill Actions

Date	Description
March 13, 2017	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
March 10, 2017	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
March 10, 2017	Vote in the House On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 188 (Roll no. 158). (text: CR H2030)
March 10, 2017	Vote in the House On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 186 - 232 (Roll no. 157).
March 10, 2017	The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
March 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.
March 10, 2017	Ms. Lofgren moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H2039)
March 10, 2017	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
March 10, 2017	The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 720.
March 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.
March 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.
March 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.
March 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.
March 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.
March 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.
March 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.
March 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.
March 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.
March 10, 2017	GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 720.
March 10, 2017	The Speaker designated the Honorable Evan H. Jenkins to act as Chairman of the Committee.
March 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.
March 10, 2017	Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 720 and H.R. 985.
March 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 the House by Lamar Smith (R-Texas)

Legislators

Bills

Statements

Lobbying

Travel