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H.R. 1020: Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009

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H.R. 1020: Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009

111th Congress · introduced 2009-02-12 · Law · Latest: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law Discharged.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2009-02-12 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law Discharged. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009

Plain summary

Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009 - Declares that no predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of: (1) an employment, consumer, or franchise dispute, or (2) a dispute arising under any statute intended to protect civil rights. Declares, further, that the validity or enforceability of an agreement to arbitrate shall be determined by a court, under federal law, rather than an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement. Exempts from this Act arbitration provisions in collective bargaining agreements.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4] · 118 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), André Carson (D-IN), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Adam Smith (D-WA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and 58 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4] reported raising $514,399 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Statute
A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong111-hr1020 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111