# 119-hr-8581: SET Act

119-hr-8581, SET Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18] (D-TX); status introduced (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8581
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8581
- Congress: 119
- Title: SET Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-29
- Sponsor: Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18] (D-TX)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Congress
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Require special elections within 180 days to fill U.S. House vacancies.** The bill would pair that timing rule with civil enforcement so the Attorney General or private parties can sue to force a state to hold the election. - Constituents: Districts would get a vote sooner, generally reducing the time a seat is vacant to 180 days unless a general election falls in that window. - State election officials: Governors and secretaries of state would need to schedule special elections within 180 days or face court actions, subject to existing state law on election timing. - Congressional leaders and private plaintiffs: The Attorney General may sue to enforce the rule, and any aggrieved person including the Speaker or House Minority Leader could seek declaratory or injunctive relief against a state chief executive. - Election procedures: The bill defines “special election” as the vote to fill the vacancy and says it does not include nominating elections, clarifying what counts under the deadline.

## Cosponsors (8)

- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2026-04-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2026-04-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-04-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] (D-OH), 2026-04-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2026-04-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2] (D-AL), 2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] (D-TX), 2026-05-15T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Faster special elections for House seats: benefit, high. If enacted, this bill would require a special election to fill any U.S. House vacancy within 180 days after the vacancy occurs. The 180-day rule would not apply if a regularly scheduled general election for that office is to be held at any time during that 180-day period. The bill would define “spe…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-5361: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-8581 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8581)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-5361: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5361)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8581 (as of 2026-09-21).