# 119-s-3533: Shadow Docket Sunlight Act of 2025

119-s-3533, Shadow Docket Sunlight Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3533
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-3533
- Congress: 119
- Title: Shadow Docket Sunlight Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-12-17
- Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT)
- Cosponsors: 13
- Policy area: Law
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Public written explanations and recorded votes for Supreme Court orders on preliminary injunctions and stays.** This bill would require the Court to publish a written explanation for any order granting, denying, or vacating preliminary injunctive relief or a stay and to disclose how each participating justice voted. - Litigants: Would receive written assessments that address four legal factors for injunctions and four for stays. The rule applies to cases within the Court's appellate jurisdiction and to claims under Title 5, chapters 5 and 7. - Public and reporters: Would get clearer reasons and vote counts for orders often called the "shadow docket," making emergency decisions easier to analyze. - Federal Judicial Center and Congress: Would require the Center's Director to report to Congress on compliance, with the first report due by April 1 of the first year that begins more than 180 days after enactment and then every two years. The Director may request extra time for the first report and must state the amount needed in writing.

## Cosponsors (13)

- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI] (D-RI), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-12-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More Supreme Court emergency transparency: benefit, low. This bill would require the Supreme Court to publish a written explanation for orders that grant, deny, or vacate preliminary injunctions or stays in appellate cases. The Court would also have to say in writing how each participating justice voted. For injunction orders, the explanation would have…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act

## Sources
- [119-s-3533 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3533)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2295)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3533 (as of 2026-08-11).