Restoring Civil Rights Attorney’s Fees Act of 2026

This bill changes federal civil rights law to define when a person who sues counts as the "prevailing party" and can ask the court to make the other side pay their attorney's fees. A party would count as prevailing if they win a court order, including a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order that changes the parties' relationship and is not reversed, even if the order is later vacated as moot. A party would also count as prevailing if they get an enforceable written agreement or consent decree, or if the defendant or government voluntarily changes its position in a way that ends the case or substantially grants what the party asked for. The changes would apply to cases pending when the bill becomes law and to cases filed afterward.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Glenn Grothman Republican sponsor
• 1 cosponsors