Federal
S 55 Would Require Senators and Representatives to Read Bills Before Voting on Them
S 55, known as the Read the Bills Act, would require members of Congress to certify that they have read, or had read to them, the full text of any bill or resolution before casting a vote on it. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration in January 2025. No committee vote or floor action has occurred yet.
✓ REASONS TO SUPPORT
- Lawmakers would have to personally engage with the text of a bill before voting, reducing the chance of passing laws members do not fully understand
- Voters could hold legislators more directly accountable, knowing their representative certified they read what they voted for
- The requirement could slow down rushed or last-minute votes on lengthy legislation, giving the public more time to weigh in
- It reinforces a basic expectation of due diligence for one of the most consequential things a legislator does
✕ REASONS TO OPPOSE
- Bills can run thousands of pages; a strict reading requirement could make it nearly impossible to act quickly in emergencies or on time-sensitive legislation
- Much of the work of reviewing legislation is already done by staff, legal experts, and committee members — a personal reading mandate may not improve the quality of decisions
- The certification requirement could be difficult to enforce and might become a formality rather than a meaningful check
- Slowing down the legislative process could make it harder to pass routine or uncontested measures efficiently
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