S. 164Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 17, 2026 at 4:21 AM UTC

The Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2025 changes the federal rule‑making process by letting Congress reject multiple "midnight rules"—regulations issued in the last year of a President’s term—in a single joint resolution. The amendment adds new language to the U.S. Code so that several such rules can be bundled together for disapproval, and it provides a standard wording for those resolutions. This affects federal agencies that issue late‑term regulations and the Congress that reviews them.

Key Provisions

Adds a new paragraph (4) to 5 U.S.C. § 801(d) allowing a joint resolution of disapproval to include one or more rules that were submitted during the final year of a President’s term.
Amends 5 U.S.C. § 802(a) to insert clarifying language and to create a specific resolving clause for joint resolutions under the new paragraph, stating that Congress disapproves the listed rules and that those rules have no force or effect.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 564.

September 14, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 21, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

January 21, 2025

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

August 6, 2026

SenateCommittee

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul without amendment. Without written report.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

September 14, 2026

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 564.

September 14, 2026

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued September 14, 2026

Calendar No. 564

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 164

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 21, 2025

Mr. Johnson (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Schmitt, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. Lankford, and Mr. Scott of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

September 14, 2026

Reported by Mr. Paul, without amendment

A BILL

To amend chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for en bloc consideration in resolutions of disapproval for midnight rules, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2025.

En bloc consideration of resolutions of disapproval pertaining to midnight rules

(a)

In general

Section 801(d) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(4)

In applying section 802 to rules described under paragraph (1), a joint resolution of disapproval may contain one or more such rules if the report under subsection (a)(1)(A) for each such rule was submitted during the final year of a President’s term.

(b)

Text of resolving clause

Section 802(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by inserting (1) In general.— after (a);

(2)

by inserting after resolving clause of which is the following: (except as otherwise provided in this subsection); and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

Joint resolutions under section 801(d)(4)

In the case of a joint resolution under section 801(d)(4), the matter after the resolving clause of such resolution shall be as follows: That Congress disapproves the following rules: the rule submitted by the __ relating to __; and the rule submitted by the __ relating to __. Such rules shall have no force or effect. (The blank spaces being appropriately filled in and additional clauses describing additional rules to be included as necessary).

September 14, 2026

Reported without amendment