A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
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
The Honest Services Fraud Improvement Act lets everyday citizens sue government officials who commit fraud and violate the public's right to honest services. Qualified plaintiffs are regular constituents who are not tied to political campaigns. When a citizen files a lawsuit under this law, the government gets a chance to step in and start a criminal prosecution instead. If the government declines to step in, the lawsuit can move forward in federal court. Successful plaintiffs can recover damages, including three times the value of any bribe, along with attorney fees and expenses.
Yes· 3 of 19
- Scored +6
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
This bill empowers citizens to uncover and litigate government corruption and honest services fraud, increasing transparency and accountability.
- Scored +3
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
This bill gives young adult citizens a mechanism to hold public officials accountable for corruption.
- Scored +3
Would people in middle age be better off under this?
This bill allows middle-aged constituents to file civil actions against corrupt government officials.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(b) allows citizens to hold elected officials accountable by filing a civil lawsuit when an official engages in a scheme to defraud the public of honest services. This gives regular people a direct tool to fight government corruption.
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Section 2(e)(1)(A) provides that plaintiffs can be awarded compensatory damages and bribery damages equal to three times the value of any bribe solicited or accepted by the official. This heavily penalizes corrupt behavior and financially compensates for the wrongdoing.
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Section 2(e)(2) requires the liable defendant to pay reasonable expenses, attorney fees, and costs incurred by the plaintiff. This ensures that citizens are not financially ruined just for trying to hold public servants accountable.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Section 2(c)(2) states that a plaintiff may not proceed pro se, meaning they are barred from representing themselves. This forces individuals to hire a lawyer, which can add a significant financial barrier to filing a lawsuit.
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Section 2(c)(3) explicitly prohibits courts from enjoining any official action as a remedy. This means citizens cannot stop a harmful government action from moving forward through this specific type of lawsuit.
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? — This bill provides Black Americans and all citizens an equal legal tool to combat public corruption. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — This bill enables Asian American citizens to challenge government corruption through civil litigation. Would business owners be better off under this? — This bill creates mechanisms to deter and penalize corrupt government officials, fostering a fairer administrative environment. Would high-income households be better off under this? — This bill allows high-income constituents to participate in civil enforcement against corrupt public officials. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — This bill gives Hispanic Americans a direct mechanism to hold government officials accountable. Would men be better off under this? — This bill grants men citizens a mechanism to enforce honest services and combat public corruption. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — This bill allows middle-aged constituents to file civil actions against corrupt government officials. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — This bill provides middle-class constituents with a direct legal tool to fight government corruption and recover damages. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — This bill explicitly includes tribal government agents as government officials subject to citizen actions for honest services fraud. Would retired people be better off under this? — This bill gives retired citizens a legal tool to fight public corruption and hold officials accountable. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — This bill allows rural constituents living under local or state jurisdictions to hold government officials accountable for fraud. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — This bill enables seniors to combat public corruption and hold government officials accountable. Would people in cities be better off under this? — This bill allows urban constituents to file civil lawsuits against corrupt local and state officials. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — This bill provides veterans a direct avenue to hold public officials accountable for fraud. Would white Americans be better off under this? — This bill provides white citizens a direct mechanism to combat public corruption. Would women be better off under this? — This bill grants women citizens a mechanism to enforce honest services and combat public corruption. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — This bill gives young adult citizens a mechanism to hold public officials accountable for corruption. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — While individuals must hire a lawyer, successful plaintiffs can recover attorney fees and significant damages for public corruption.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — This bill empowers citizens to uncover and litigate government corruption and honest services fraud, increasing transparency and accountability.
- 9/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey