Title 11BankruptcyRelease 119-73

§903 Reservation of State power to control municipalities

Title 11 › Chapter CHAPTER 9— - ADJUSTMENT OF DEBTS OF A MUNICIPALITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 903

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A state may control its cities and towns, including their government powers and spending. But it cannot force any creditor to accept plans changing a municipality’s debts, and a judgment under such plans won’t bind creditors who did not agree.

Full Legal Text

Title 11, §903

Bankruptcy — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

This chapter does not limit or impair the power of a State to control, by legislation or otherwise, a municipality of or in such State in the exercise of the political or governmental powers of such municipality, including expenditures for such exercise, but—
(1)a State law prescribing a method of composition of indebtedness of such municipality may not bind any creditor that does not consent to such composition; and
(2)a judgment entered under such a law may not bind a creditor that does not consent to such composition.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Legislative Statements

section 903 of the House amendment represents a stylistic revision of section 903 of the Senate amendment. To the extent section 903 of the House bill would have changed present law, such section is rejected.

senate report no. 95–989

section 903 is derived, with stylistic changes, from section 83 of current Chapter IX [section 403 of former title 11]. It sets forth the primary authority of a State, through its constitution, laws, and other powers, over its municipalities. The proviso in section 83, prohibiting State composition procedures for municipalities, is retained. Deletion of the provision would “permit all States to enact their own versions of Chapter IX [chapter 9 of former title 11]”, Municipal Insolvency, 50 Am.Bankr.L.J. 55, 65, which would frustrate the constitutional mandate of uniform bankruptcy laws. Constitution of the United States, Art. I, Sec. 8. This section provides that the municipality can consent to the court’s orders in regard to use of its income or property. It is contemplated that such consent will be required by the court for the issuance of certificates of indebtedness under section 364(c). Such consent could extend to

Enforcement

of the conditions attached to the certificates or the municipal services to be provided during the proceedings.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1984—Par. (2). Pub. L. 98–353 struck out “to” before “that does not consent”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–353 effective with respect to cases filed 90 days after July 10, 1984, see section 552(a) of Pub. L. 98–353, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

11 U.S.C. § 903

Title 11Bankruptcy

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73