Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Bivens Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 10 Democratic cosponsors · See all 10 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Bivens Act of 2025," aims to provide a civil remedy for individuals whose rights are violated by persons acting under Federal authority. It proposes an amendment to Section 1979 of the Revised Statutes. The change involves inserting the phrase "of the United States or" before the existing text regarding any State. This legislative action is intended to create a specific legal pathway for recourse.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +5
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill strengthens individual legal recourse by allowing civil actions against those acting under federal authority for rights violations.
- Scored +4
Would Black Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides a civil remedy for rights violations that may disproportionately affect minority communities during federal interactions.
- Scored +4
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides a civil remedy for rights violations that may disproportionately affect minority communities during federal interactions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Civil Remedy for Rights Violations: The bill seeks to provide a civil remedy for an individual whose rights have been violated by a person acting under Federal authority (Section 2). This could be considered positive as it offers a way for people to seek justice when their rights are infringed upon by federal actors.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text: The provided text focuses solely on the mechanism for providing a civil remedy and does not list any potential negative consequences or burdens.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides a civil remedy for rights violations that may disproportionately affect minority communities during federal interactions. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides a civil remedy for rights violations that may disproportionately affect minority communities during federal interactions. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides a legal remedy that can benefit low-income individuals who may have their rights violated by federal actors. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill establishes a civil remedy for individuals whose rights are violated by federal authorities, including those with disabilities.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill strengthens individual legal recourse by allowing civil actions against those acting under federal authority for rights violations. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill increases accountability for federal officials by providing a pathway for civil litigation regarding rights violations. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — Providing a civil remedy against federal actors can offer greater protection against federal overreach and privacy violations.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The bill provides a legal mechanism for individuals to seek recourse against federal actors, enhancing accountability for federal law enforcement. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill creates a civil remedy for individuals whose rights are violated by federal authorities, which can include those with disabilities.
- 4/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont