Supreme Court Review Act of 2026
Creates a fast-track Senate process for legislation responding to certain Supreme Court decisions.
In the Senate Judiciary Committee since Sept. 24, 2026, 14 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Congress can consider legislation after the Supreme Court interprets federal law or constitutional rights. The bill would create a fast-track Senate process for certain resolutions responding to those decisions, with limits on debate and amendments. It would also provide an expedited path for qualifying resolutions sent by the House.
- 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.
- Define covered decisions and resolutions
The process would apply to Supreme Court decisions interpreting federal statutes or interpreting or reinterpreting the Constitution in a way that diminishes an individual right or privilege previously protected by the Constitution. A qualifying joint resolution must be introduced within 10 days of session after the decision, use a specified title, and address that decision.
- Allow a committee to be discharged
If a committee does not report a qualifying resolution within 30 days of session after referral, the Senate minority leader or the committee's ranking member could move to discharge the committee during the following 10 days of session. No more than one resolution for a particular decision could be placed on the Senate calendar through this route.
- Limit debate and amendments
The Senate would have up to 10 hours for debate and related motions, divided equally between majority and minority leaders or their designees. Only germane amendments would be allowed, with up to five from each party's floor leader, in addition to qualifying committee amendments; non-germane provisions could be struck.
- Fast-track House measures and veto messages
A qualifying House resolution received within 40 days of session after the Supreme Court decision would go directly to the Senate calendar and receive the expedited procedures. Senate consideration of a presidential veto message on a covered resolution would be limited to two hours, divided equally between majority and minority leaders or their designees.
The measure is intended to give Congress a defined, faster route to consider legislation related to certain Supreme Court decisions. The practical stakes would depend on whether Congress used that route and what any resulting legislation said.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026SENATESEP 24, 2026By Sen. Whitehouse with 6 original cosponsorsReferred to Judiciary
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 24, 2026JUDICIARY NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 14 daysNo hearing yet
- 14 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE 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, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 14, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
A coalition from 6 states
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Whitehouse’s record: sponsored 103 bills this Congress. 5 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Richard BlumenthalD-CTORIGINAL
- Catherine Cortez MastoD-NVORIGINAL
- Mazie K. HironoD-HIORIGINAL
- Alex PadillaD-CAORIGINAL
- Elizabeth WarrenD-MAORIGINAL
- Ron WydenD-ORORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
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