S. 110 – One Subject at a Time Act

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Updated February 7, 2026 at 9:43 PM UTC

The One Subject at a Time Act would require every bill or joint resolution passed by Congress to address only a single subject, and that subject must be clearly stated in the bill’s title. It also limits appropriations bills from including unrelated general legislation, while still allowing spending restrictions. The law applies to all federal legislation and creates a legal avenue for challenges if the rule is violated.

Key Provisions

Each bill or joint resolution may cover only one subject, and the subject must be clearly expressed in the title.
Appropriation bills cannot contain unrelated general legislation or changes to existing law, though spending limits are allowed.
If a bill’s title addresses two or more unrelated subjects, the entire bill is void.
If a bill’s title covers one subject but includes provisions on other subjects not reflected in the title, those extra provisions are void.
Any provision in an appropriations bill that falls outside the jurisdiction of the relevant appropriations subcommittee is void.
Individuals or members of Congress may sue the United States for violations, with courts reviewing such cases de novo.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Rules and Administration Committee

January 28, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 28, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Rules and Administration Committee

January 28, 2021

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued January 28, 2021

II

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 110

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 28, 2021

Mr. Paul introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

A BILL

To end the practice of including more than one subject in a single bill by requiring that each bill enacted by Congress be limited to only one subject, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the One Subject at a Time Act.

2.

One subject at a time

(a)

One subject

Each bill or joint resolution shall embrace no more than one subject.

(b)

Subject in title

The subject of a bill or joint resolution shall be clearly and descriptively expressed in the title.

(c)

Appropriation bills

An appropriations bill shall not contain any general legislation or change to a provision of existing law, the subject of which is not germane to the subject matter of each such appropriations bill; provided, however, that this section shall not be construed to prohibit any provision imposing limitations upon the expenditure of funds so appropriated.

3.

Enforcement

(a)

Multiple subjects in title

If the title of an Act or joint resolution addresses two or more unrelated subjects, the entire Act or joint resolution is void.

(b)

Provisions not expressed in title

If the title of an Act or joint resolution addresses a single subject, but the Act contains one or more provisions concerning a subject that is not clearly and descriptively expressed in its title, only such provision or provisions concerning the subject not clearly and descriptively expressed in the title shall be void.

(c)

Appropriation provisions outside subcommittee jurisdiction

If an Act appropriating funds contains a provision outside of the jurisdiction of the relevant subcommittee of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, and therefore outside the subject of the bill, such provision shall be void.

(d)

Provisions of appropriation bills not germane to subject matter

If an Act appropriating funds contains a provision of general legislation or a change of a provision of existing law not germane to the subject matter of such bill, such provision shall be void.

(e)

Commencement of an action

Any person aggrieved by the enforcement of, or attempt or threat of enforcement of, an Act passed without having complied with section 2 or this section, or any Member of Congress aggrieved by the failure of the House of Congress of which that individual is a member to comply with any requirement of those sections, shall, regardless of the amount in controversy, have a cause of action under sections 2201 and 2202 of title 28, United States Code, against the United States to seek appropriate relief, including an injunction against the enforcement of any law, the passage of which did not conform to section 2 or this section.

(f)

State of review

In any judicial action brought pursuant to subsection (e), the standard of review shall be de novo.