# 117-hr-8394: Lawrence v. Texas Codification Act of 2022

117-hr-8394, Lawrence v. Texas Codification Act of 2022, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY); status Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8394
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-8394
- Congress: 117
- Title: Lawrence v. Texas Codification Act of 2022
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
- Introduced: 2022-07-15
- Sponsor: Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Lawrence v. Texas Codification Act of 2022 This bill provides statutory authority for the right of individuals of the same sex to engage in private, consensual sexual conduct. Specifically, the bill prohibits any state from enacting a law or regulation that infringes on any individual's right to enter into a consensual sexual relationship in the confines of their home and private life, including with respect to individuals of the same sex. (The Supreme Court held that state laws criminalizing private, consensual sexual relationships between individuals of the same sex were unconstitutional in Lawrence v. Texas in 2003.) The bill allows the Department of Justice to bring a civil action for violations. It also establishes a private right of action through Section 1983 lawsuits (Section 1983 is a federal statute that allows individuals to sue state or local government actors for violations of constitutional rights).

## Related bills

- 117-hr-3076: Postal Service Reform Act of 2022
- 117-hr-7077: Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act
- 117-hr-8404: Respect for Marriage Act
- 117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act
- 117-hr-9648: Bus Rapid Transit Act
- 117-hr-9647: Light Rail Transit Act

## Sources
- [117-hr-8394 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8394)

## Related
- [117-hr-3076: Postal Service Reform Act of 2022](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3076)
- [117-hr-7077: Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-7077)
- [117-hr-8404: Respect for Marriage Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8404)
- [117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1842)
- [117-hr-9648: Bus Rapid Transit Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-9648)
- [117-hr-9647: Light Rail Transit Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-9647)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8394 (as of 2025-11-18).