This bill, titled the "Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act," amends title 49 of the United States Code to prohibit Amtrak from enforcing predispute arbitration agreements and predispute joint-action waivers with its customers. The primary purpose is to ensure that customers retain their right to resolve consumer and civil rights disputes, including those involving personal injuries, through traditional legal channels rather than being forced into arbitration. Specifically, the legislation defines consumer disputes to include all claims related to personal injuries and civil rights disputes as those arising from alleged violations of constitutional or anti-discrimination laws based on protected characteristics. It explicitly states that any predispute arbitration agreement or predispute joint-action waiver will be deemed invalid and unenforceable for these types of disputes between Amtrak and its customers. Furthermore, the bill mandates that a court, not an arbitrator, will determine the applicability and enforceability of these agreements, ensuring judicial oversight. This measure takes effect upon enactment and applies to all disputes arising thereafter, excluding those covered by the Railway Labor Act.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act
USA119th CongressS-4572| Senate
| Updated: 5/19/2026
This bill, titled the "Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act," amends title 49 of the United States Code to prohibit Amtrak from enforcing predispute arbitration agreements and predispute joint-action waivers with its customers. The primary purpose is to ensure that customers retain their right to resolve consumer and civil rights disputes, including those involving personal injuries, through traditional legal channels rather than being forced into arbitration. Specifically, the legislation defines consumer disputes to include all claims related to personal injuries and civil rights disputes as those arising from alleged violations of constitutional or anti-discrimination laws based on protected characteristics. It explicitly states that any predispute arbitration agreement or predispute joint-action waiver will be deemed invalid and unenforceable for these types of disputes between Amtrak and its customers. Furthermore, the bill mandates that a court, not an arbitrator, will determine the applicability and enforceability of these agreements, ensuring judicial oversight. This measure takes effect upon enactment and applies to all disputes arising thereafter, excluding those covered by the Railway Labor Act.