Ending Qualified Immunity Act
Sponsored By: Representative Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
Introduced
Summary
Removes qualified immunity for people sued under 42 U.S.C. 1983. This bill would strip the qualified immunity defense in actions brought under section 1979 (42 U.S.C. 1983), including defenses based on a defendant's good-faith belief or that the right was not clearly established at the time of the alleged violation.
Show full summary
- Families and people alleging rights violations: They would face fewer legal hurdles to pursue claims under 42 U.S.C. 1983 because defendants could no longer invoke good-faith or 'not clearly established' defenses.
- State and local officials acting under color of law: Officials could be held liable more often since the bill removes a common shield used in civil rights suits.
- Pending and future cases: The change would apply to actions filed after enactment and to cases pending on enactment, affecting both new and ongoing litigation.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
No qualified immunity for state and local officials
If enacted, this bill would end qualified immunity as a defense in federal civil rights suits against state or local officials. In court, officials could not argue they acted in good faith or that the law was unclear. This would apply to cases pending on the date of enactment and to new cases filed after that date. People who sue could find it easier to get money or other relief. Cities, counties, and their employees would face higher legal and financial risk.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/4/2025
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/8/2025
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov