H.R. 6239: Prevention of Frivolous Ethanol Lawsuits Act of 2010

111th Congress · introduced 2010-09-29 · Law · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2010-09-29 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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

Prevention of Frivolous Ethanol Lawsuits Act of 2010

Plain summary

Prevention of Frivolous Ethanol Lawsuits Act of 2010 - Immunizes a covered entity from suit and liability under federal and state law with respect to all claims for personal or property loss resulting from, or being aggravated by, the use of any renewable fuel containing ethanol in concentrations greater than 10% to operate an internal combustion engine. Defines "covered entity" to mean an entity engaged in the manufacture, sale, or distribution of fuel or products which use renewable fuel. Makes the sole exception to immunity under this Act an exclusive federal cause of action brought by an injured person or the person's representative against a covered person for death or serious physical injury proximately caused by the covered person's willful misconduct. Grants the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia exclusive jurisdiction of any such civil action. Excludes from the meaning of willful misconduct, however, any act or omission by a manufacturer or distributor with respect to a covered countermeasure, if the act or omission alleged to constitute willful misconduct is subject to regulation by the Clean Air Act and: (1) neither the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nor the Attorney General has initiated an enforcement action with respect to that act or omission; or (2) an enforcement action has been initiated and the action has been terminated or finally resolved without a civil, criminal, or administrative remedy. States that any action or proceeding shall be stayed during the pendency of such an enforcement action.

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

Prevention of Frivolous Ethanol Lawsuits Act of 2010

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

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 (2)

Jurisdiction: The area or the matters a government or court has authority over.
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-111hr6239.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/111/hr>

Record fed-us-cong111-hr6239 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111