Bill > S59

This bill, known as the "One Subject at a Time Act," aims to reform the legislative process by requiring that each bill or joint resolution in Congress focus on only one subject. Specifically, the bill mandates that each proposed legislation must clearly and descriptively express its single subject in its title, and appropriations bills cannot include unrelated general legislation or changes to existing law. The bill introduces strict enforcement mechanisms: if a bill's title covers multiple unrelated subjects, the entire act becomes void; if a bill contains provisions not clearly described in its title, those specific provisions will be invalidated. For appropriations bills, any provisions outside the relevant subcommittee's jurisdiction or not germane to the bill's main subject will be considered void. The bill also provides a legal mechanism for any person or congressional member who believes a law was passed without adhering to these requirements to bring a cause of action in court, with the judicial review conducted on a de novo basis (meaning the court will review the matter completely anew, without deferring to previous interpretations). The ultimate goal is to increase legislative transparency, prevent the practice of bundling unrelated provisions into a single bill, and ensure that each piece of legislation addresses a clear, singular purpose.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/59/all-info