No Regulation Through Litigation Act of 2025

House Bill

H.R. 849

119th Congress

No Regulation Through Litigation Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 31, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Michael Cloud

Representative

Republican

TX-27

Cosponsors

7

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Summary

This bill limits federal agencies ability to use litigation settlements and consent decrees to create new regulations. It prohibits consent decrees that exceed court authority and restricts including attorney fees or costs in settlements that result in new regulations or guidance documents.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill limits federal agencies ability to use litigation settlements and consent decrees to create new regulations. It prohibits consent decrees that exceed court authority and restricts including attorney fees or costs in settlements that result in new regulations or guidance documents.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

No Regulation Through Litigation Act of 2025This bill specifies that a federal agency may not enter into a consent decree that exceeds the authority of the court that enters the order related to the decree. It also limits the inclusion of attorney fees or litigation costs in consent decrees or settlement agreements that result in a regulation or guidance document.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Limits consent decrees that exceed court authority
Restricts attorney fees in regulatory settlements
Prevents agencies from creating rules through litigation
Addresses sue and settle regulatory tactics
Requires regulations through normal rulemaking process

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Federal agencies would face restrictions on using litigation settlements to implement policy changes. This targets what critics call regulation through litigation or sue and settle tactics. Advocacy groups that sue agencies to force regulatory action would have less leverage.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Related Subjects

Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Civil actions and liability

Legal fees and court costs

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

849, 119th Congress (2025). "No Regulation Through Litigation Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-849