CLEAR Act
Publishes detailed Judgment Fund payment data and requires an annual review of federal “sue-and-settle” agreements.
In the House Judiciary Committee since Sept. 24, 2026, 12 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Federal claims and judgments can result in payments from the Judgment Fund. The CLEAR Act would require public details about those payments and searchable monthly totals. It would also require an annual review of certain litigation-related settlements and protect the identities of people who disclose payment information.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Publish details of Judgment Fund payments
The Treasury Secretary would have to post information about each payment, including the agency involved, the claimant and their counsel, amounts paid, and a brief description of the claim’s facts. The information would be posted as soon as practicable and no later than 30 days after the payment is tendered, subject to limits imposed by law or a court order.
- Break down monthly payment totals
The Treasury website would show monthly payment totals, including how many payments were settlements, searchable by agency or entity, claimant, and counsel. It would also break out monthly amounts for payments, attorney fees, court costs, and interest.
- Review federal sue-and-settle agreements
The Comptroller General would review settlements paid under the chapter and report to Congress each year on the agencies most often involved, average settlement amounts, and common characteristics and trends. The bill defines “sue-and-settle tactics” to include certain agreements made during or in response to litigation, such as abandoning a policy or agreeing not to enforce a law or regulation.
- Protect payment information sources
The identity of an individual who discloses information about a payment under the section could not be disclosed.
The bill would make more information about federal claim payments and litigation-related settlements available for public review. Its annual review would give Congress information about the agencies and settlement patterns involved in the types of agreements the bill defines as “sue-and-settle tactics.”
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026HOUSESEP 24, 2026By Rep. HagemanReferred to Judiciary
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeSEP 24, 2026JUDICIARY NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 12 daysNo hearing yet
- 12 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 12, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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