United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 720 (115th)
Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017
Introduced
30 January 2017
Last action
13 March 2017 · Introduced
Status
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sponsors
Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21], Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6], Rep. Buck, Ken [R-CO-4], Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8], Rep. Farenthold, Blake [R-TX-27], Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1], Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
Subjects
Defence
Source updated
10 August 2026
Summary
Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017 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that prohibits filing a motion for sanctions if the challenged paper, claim, defense, contention, or denial is withdrawn or appropriately corrected within 21 days after service or within another time the court sets.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.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
30 January 2017
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
30 January 2017
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
30 January 2017
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
31 January 2017
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Source: Committee
24 February 2017
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 4.
Source: Calendars
24 February 2017
Reported
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-16.
Source: Committee
24 February 2017
Reported
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 115-16.
Source: Committee
10 March 2017
Floor
Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 720 and H.R. 985.
Source: Floor
10 March 2017
Floor
The Speaker designated the Honorable Evan H. Jenkins to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Source: Floor
10 March 2017
Floor
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 180 and Rule XVIII.
Source: Floor
10 March 2017
Floor
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 180. (consideration: CR H2025-2041)
Source: Floor
10 March 2017
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
10 March 2017
Vote
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 188 (Roll no. 158). (text: CR H2030)
Source: Floor
10 March 2017
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 188 (Roll no. 158).(text: CR H2030)
Source: Floor
10 March 2017
Vote
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 186 - 232 (Roll no. 157).
Source: Floor
10 March 2017
Floor
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
Source: Floor
10 March 2017
Floor
Ms. Lofgren moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H2039)
Source: Floor
10 March 2017
Floor
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Source: Floor
10 March 2017
Floor
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 720.
Source: Floor
13 March 2017
Introduced
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
Votes
10 March 2017 · passed · On Passage · Passed · Official source
Yes 230 · No 188 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 11
- Rep. Ferguson, A. Drew, IV [R-GA-3]Aye
- Rep. McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA-4]No
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]No
- Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]Aye
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
10 March 2017 · failed · On Motion to Recommit with Instructions · Failed · Official source
Yes 186 · No 232 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 11
- Rep. Ferguson, A. Drew, IV [R-GA-3]No
- Rep. McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA-4]Aye
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]Aye
- Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]No
Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.
Versions
- Referred in Senate · 13 March 2017 · Download file
- Engrossed in House · 10 March 2017 · Download file
- Reported in House · 24 February 2017 · Download file
- Introduced in House · 30 January 2017 · Download file
Documents
11 official files
Referred in Senate (text)
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Referred in Senate (text)
Referred in Senate · EN · 13 March 2017
Referred in Senate (PDF)
Referred in Senate · EN · 13 March 2017
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Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 10 March 2017
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Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 10 March 2017
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Passed House without amendment
summary · EN · 10 March 2017
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Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 24 February 2017
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Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 24 February 2017
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Reported to House without amendment
summary · EN · 24 February 2017
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 30 January 2017
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 30 January 2017
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
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Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 30 January 2017
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Buck, Ken [R-CO-4] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Farenthold, Blake [R-TX-27] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Chabot, Steve [R-OH-1] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT-3] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17] · R · Cosponsor
- · ssju00 · Standing
- · hsju00 · Standing
Related records
- related to ← Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2017
- related to ← Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 720) to amend Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to improve attorney accountability, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 985) to amend the procedures used in Federal court class actions and multidistrict litigation proceedings to assure fairer, more efficient outcomes for claimants and defendants, and for other purposes.
- related to ← Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2015
- amends ← Amendment sought to reinstate the safe harbor provisions to allow parties to avoid penalties by withdrawing or correcting the claims within 14 days from when the alleged violation of rule 11(b) becomes known, anytime up until the end of the discovery period.
- amends ← Amendment sought to strike the provision mandating the award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs, restoring judicial discretion to award such fees and costs, when warranted.
- amends ← Amendment sought to exempt from the bill civil actions alleging any violation of a constitutional or civil right.
- amends ← Amendment sought to exempt actions pertaining to whistleblowers.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/720
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/115/hr/720
- us · 115-hr-720 · source updated 10 August 2026