hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Raises the threshold for disciplinary resolutions against members.
Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and 10 cosponsors
Referred to House Rules Committee, no vote yet
The bill changes House rules so that to introduce a resolution punishing a member for misconduct, the majority or minority leader must have at least one-fifth of all House members (about 87) as cosponsors. For other members, they must wait a day and maintain that support. The sponsor is a Republican from South Dakota, and the bill is currently in the Rules Committee, which decides what goes to the floor. This means it's early in the process and unlikely to pass quickly.
Introduced Feb 3, 2026
This bill is under review by a committee. The committee holds hearings, gathers testimony from experts and stakeholders, and may propose amendments. If the committee votes to advance it, the bill moves to the full chamber for debate and a vote.
This bill only applies to the House for the rest of the 119th Congress (through 2026). It raises the bar for offering a resolution to discipline a member (like censure or expulsion). The majority or minority leader would need 87+ cosponsors, and others would need that support for a day. This could make it less likely that a single member can force a vote on ethics issues. However, it does not affect existing ethics processes like the Ethics Committee.
Supporters Say
Supporters say it prevents frivolous privilege resolutions that waste time and weaponize the floor.
Critics Say
Critics say it protects members from accountability and makes it too hard to address serious misconduct.
Supporters, often from the majority party, argue that privilege resolutions can be abused to attack opponents, and requiring broad support ensures only serious matters get a vote. Critics worry that the one-fifth threshold is too high, allowing a small group to block accountability for unethical behavior. The bill is temporary, only for this Congress, suggesting it may be a test or response to recent events.