Legis Daily

Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-3213| House 
| Updated: 5/6/2025
Scott Fitzgerald

Scott Fitzgerald

Republican Representative

Wisconsin

Cosponsors (3)
Daniel Meuser (Republican)Andy Barr (Republican)Tim Moore (Republican)

Financial Services Committee, Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2025" seeks to reaffirm the traditional role of State and Federal courts in regulating attorneys engaged in litigation. Historically, attorney conduct in legal actions has been overseen by courts and their disciplinary agencies, not by federal agencies or private litigants. However, recent developments, such as the application of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to attorneys' litigation activities and aggressive actions by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), have created conflicting rules and undermined judicial authority. This bill establishes that Federal agencies do not have supervisory, enforcement, or regulatory authority over the litigation activities of attorneys or law firms . It also prohibits any person from bringing a civil action in a U.S. court for harm arising from alleged misconduct related to the litigation activities of an opposing attorney or law firm . "Litigation activities" are broadly defined to include actions like serving legal pleadings, communicating in court, and other practice of law activities related to a legal action. To reinforce these protections, the Act makes conforming amendments to existing law. It explicitly excludes licensed attorneys and law firms engaged in litigation activities from the definition of a "debt collector" under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Additionally, it clarifies that the existing "practice of law" exclusion in the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 does not apply to attorneys engaged in debt collection litigation if they are already excluded from the FDCPA by this new provision. These changes aim to restore judicial oversight, reduce unfair lawsuits against attorneys, and ensure access to justice.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-9393
Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-7947
Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2024
May 6, 2025
Introduced in House
May 6, 2025
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-9393
    Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-7947
    Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2024


  • May 6, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • May 6, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Law

Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-3213| House 
| Updated: 5/6/2025
The "Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2025" seeks to reaffirm the traditional role of State and Federal courts in regulating attorneys engaged in litigation. Historically, attorney conduct in legal actions has been overseen by courts and their disciplinary agencies, not by federal agencies or private litigants. However, recent developments, such as the application of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to attorneys' litigation activities and aggressive actions by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), have created conflicting rules and undermined judicial authority. This bill establishes that Federal agencies do not have supervisory, enforcement, or regulatory authority over the litigation activities of attorneys or law firms . It also prohibits any person from bringing a civil action in a U.S. court for harm arising from alleged misconduct related to the litigation activities of an opposing attorney or law firm . "Litigation activities" are broadly defined to include actions like serving legal pleadings, communicating in court, and other practice of law activities related to a legal action. To reinforce these protections, the Act makes conforming amendments to existing law. It explicitly excludes licensed attorneys and law firms engaged in litigation activities from the definition of a "debt collector" under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Additionally, it clarifies that the existing "practice of law" exclusion in the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 does not apply to attorneys engaged in debt collection litigation if they are already excluded from the FDCPA by this new provision. These changes aim to restore judicial oversight, reduce unfair lawsuits against attorneys, and ensure access to justice.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-9393
Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2022

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-7947
Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2024
May 6, 2025
Introduced in House
May 6, 2025
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-9393
    Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2022


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-7947
    Restoring Court Authority Over Litigation Act of 2024


  • May 6, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • May 6, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Scott Fitzgerald

Scott Fitzgerald

Republican Representative

Wisconsin

Cosponsors (3)
Daniel Meuser (Republican)Andy Barr (Republican)Tim Moore (Republican)

Financial Services Committee, Judiciary Committee

Law

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted