H.R. 6091: Bivens Act of 2025
Sponsor
Henry Johnson
Democrat · GA-4
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Nov 18, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Why it matters
Introduced on 2025-11-18 with 30 cosponsors, HR6091 would directly expand a major civil-rights lawsuit pathway so people can sue over rights violations committed under federal authority, not just state authority.
HR6091, the Bivens Act of 2025, is a narrow bill with potentially broad consequences. It amends Section 1979 of the Revised Statutes, codified at 42 U.S.C. 1983, by inserting just five words — “of the United States or” — immediately before the existing phrase “of any State.” That small textual edit would expand who can be sued under the statute.
Right now, 42 U.S.C. 1983 is aimed at people acting under color of state law. HR6091 would extend that same civil action framework to a person acting under the authority of the United States. In plain English, if a federal official or another person acting under federal authority violates someone’s rights, the injured person would have a clearer statutory basis to bring a civil case.
The bill matters because it tries to put federal and state rights violations on more equal footing. Instead of relying on a more limited judge-made path for some constitutional claims against federal actors, Congress would write federal-authority coverage directly into the text of 42 U.S.C. 1983. The fact sheet identifies the affected parties as individuals whose rights have been violated by a person acting under Federal authority.
The legislation is also notable for what it does not do. The fact sheet includes no age ranges, no dollar amounts, no grant program, no agency implementation plan, no filing deadline, and no civil or criminal penalty amounts. Its core effect is legal access: a statutory amendment expanding civil-action coverage. As introduced on 2025-11-18 with 30 cosponsors, the bill signals congressional interest in strengthening remedies for civil-rights violations tied to federal power.
What does H.R. 6091 do?
Amends 42 U.S.C. 1983 text directly
HR6091 amends Section 1979 of the Revised Statutes, codified at 42 U.S.C. 1983, by inserting the exact phrase “of the United States or” immediately before the existing words “of any State.”
Extends civil suits to federal actors
The bill expands the civil action statute so it covers persons acting under the authority of the United States, not only persons acting under the authority of any State under 42 U.S.C. 1983.
Targets rights violations by federal authority
The fact sheet identifies the affected parties as individuals whose rights were violated by a person acting under Federal authority, meaning the bill is aimed at creating a statutory lawsuit path for those claims.
Short, surgical bill introduced 2025-11-18
Introduced on 2025-11-18 as HR6091, the Bivens Act of 2025 uses a highly targeted textual change rather than creating a new standalone cause of action elsewhere in federal law.
No funding, penalties, or deadlines specified
The fact sheet contains no appropriated dollar amount, no authorization level, no filing deadline, and no penalty amount; the bill’s main operative change is the amendment to 42 U.S.C. 1983.
Who benefits from H.R. 6091?
People harmed by federal officials
Individuals whose rights have been violated by a person acting under Federal authority would gain access to the expanded civil action framework in 42 U.S.C. 1983 if HR6091 becomes law.
Civil-rights plaintiffs and their lawyers
They would benefit from a clearer statutory hook in 42 U.S.C. 1983, because the bill expressly adds persons acting under the authority of the United States instead of leaving federal-actor claims outside the statute’s current state-focused text.
People seeking equal treatment of federal and state misconduct
The bill would narrow the gap between misconduct under state authority and misconduct under federal authority by adding federal coverage directly into Section 1979 of the Revised Statutes.
Communities with frequent federal-law-enforcement contact
People in places or situations with heavy interaction with federal personnel could benefit because HR6091 broadens who may be sued when rights are violated by someone acting under federal authority.
Who is affected by H.R. 6091?
Federal officers and other persons acting under U.S. authority
They would face potential civil suits under an amended 42 U.S.C. 1983 because HR6091 inserts “of the United States or” into the statute’s coverage language.
Federal courts
Courts would likely see cases testing the new statutory text in 42 U.S.C. 1983 and would need to interpret who qualifies as acting under the authority of the United States.
State and local defendants in existing 1983 cases
Their current exposure under 42 U.S.C. 1983 would remain, but they would no longer be the only government-linked defendants expressly covered because the bill adds federal-authority actors alongside persons acting under authority of any State.
Congress and civil-rights policymakers
Lawmakers would be affected because HR6091, introduced on 2025-11-18 with 30 cosponsors, could reshape the national debate over statutory remedies for constitutional violations by federal actors.
H.R. 6091 Common Questions
Can you sue a federal officer under 42 U.S.C. 1983 if HR6091 passes?
Yes. Under the Bivens Act of 2025 (Section 2), 42 U.S.C. 1983 would be expanded to cover a person acting under the authority of the United States, not just state authority.
What words does the Bivens Act of 2025 add to Section 1983?
According to HR6091 Section 2, it inserts the exact phrase “of the United States or” before the existing words “of any State” in 42 U.S.C. 1983.
Does HR6091 create a federal civil rights lawsuit for rights violations under federal authority?
Yes. Under the Bivens Act of 2025 (Section 2), the civil action statute would expressly reach persons acting under the authority of the United States.
Which law would the Bivens Act of 2025 amend?
HR6091 Section 2 amends Section 1979 of the Revised Statutes, codified at 42 U.S.C. 1983.
Can someone whose rights were violated by a person acting under federal authority sue under HR6091?
Yes. According to HR6091 Section 2, the affected group is individuals whose rights are violated by persons acting under Federal authority.
Does the Bivens Act of 2025 put federal and state actors on the same Section 1983 framework?
Yes. Under the Bivens Act of 2025 (Section 2), Section 1983 would apply to persons acting under U.S. authority as well as persons acting under state authority.
Is the Bivens Act of 2025 a new standalone lawsuit law or an edit to Section 1983?
It is an edit to Section 1983. According to HR6091 Section 2, the bill amends the existing statute rather than creating a separate standalone cause of action.
Does HR6091 include any filing deadline for suing federal actors?
No filing deadline appears in the bill text provided. Under the Bivens Act of 2025, the operative change is the Section 2 amendment to 42 U.S.C. 1983.
How much funding or damages does the Bivens Act of 2025 provide?
None is specified in the bill text provided. According to HR6091 Section 2, the bill’s main effect is expanding who can be sued under 42 U.S.C. 1983.
Does the Bivens Act of 2025 set any civil or criminal penalties?
No. Under the Bivens Act of 2025, Section 2 only amends 42 U.S.C. 1983 to cover persons acting under federal authority; it does not set penalty amounts.
Based on H.R. 6091 bill text
HR6091 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Nov 18, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
About the Sponsor
Henry Johnson
Democrat, Georgia's 4th congressional district · 19 years in Congress
Committees: Transportation and Infrastructure, the Judiciary
View full profile →
Cosponsors (30)
All 30 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 16 states: California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, and 13 more.
Jamie Raskin
Democrat · MD
Sanford Bishop
Democrat · GA
Suzanne Bonamici
Democrat · OR
Steve Cohen
Democrat · TN
Maxine Dexter
Democrat · OR
Jared Huffman
Democrat · CA
Sydney Kamlager-Dove
Democrat · CA
Raja Krishnamoorthi
Democrat · IL
Summer Lee
Democrat · PA
Dave Min
Democrat · CA
Eleanor Norton
Democrat · DC
Delia Ramirez
Democrat · IL
Committee Sponsors
Judiciary Committee
8 of 42 committee members cosponsored
10 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
What laws does H.R. 6091 change?
1 changes
Sections Amended
Section 1979 of Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1983)
inserting ``of the United States or'' before ``of any State''
H.R. 6091 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Judiciary
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Introduced
- Nov 18, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 18, 2025
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for the Bivens Act of 2025, with status, text, sponsors, and actions.
Official U.S. Code page for Section 1983, the statute HR6091 would amend.
Government Publishing Office's govinfo page for the current codified text of 42 U.S.C. 1983.
Congress's Constitution Annotated provides official background on congressional civil-rights enforcement powers connected to statutes like Section 1983.
Official federal source for browsing and verifying the text and codification of statutes such as 42 U.S.C. 1983.
Official govinfo resource for the U.S. Code, useful for confirming the current statutory text HR6091 would revise.
H.R. 6091 Bill Text
“To provide a civil remedy for an individual whose rights have been violated by a person acting under Federal authority, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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