Title 1 — General ProvisionsRelease 119-73not60
§109 Repeal of Statutes as Affecting Existing Liabilities
Title 1 › Chapter 2— ACTS AND RESOLUTIONS; FORMALITIES OF ENACTMENT; REPEALS; SEALING OF INSTRUMENTS › § 109
Summary
Repealing a law does not cancel any punishment, fine, or legal responsibility that was already created under that law, unless the new law clearly says it does. The same rule applies when a temporary law ends: the old law is treated as still in effect so those penalties can be enforced.
Full Legal Text
Title 1, §109
General Provisions — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The repeal of any statute shall not have the effect to release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under such statute, unless the repealing Act shall so expressly provide, and such statute shall be treated as still remaining in force for the purpose of sustaining any proper action or prosecution for the enforcement of such penalty, forfeiture, or liability. The expiration of a temporary statute shall not have the effect to release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under such statute, unless the temporary statute shall so expressly provide, and such statute shall be treated as still remaining in force for the purpose of sustaining any proper action or prosecution for the enforcement of such penalty, forfeiture, or liability.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
1 U.S.C. § 109
Title 1 — General Provisions
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60