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S. 788: Equality Act

Before you vote › Federal bills

S. 788: Equality Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-03-13 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-03-13 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. 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

Equality Act

Plain summary

Equality Act This bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Specifically, the bill defines and includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation. The bill expands the definition of public accommodations to include places or establishments that provide (1) exhibitions, recreation, exercise, amusement, gatherings, or displays; (2) goods, services, or programs; and (3) transportation services. The bill allows the Department of Justice to intervene in equal protection actions in federal court on account of sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill prohibits an individual from being denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual's gender identity.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), 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

Equality Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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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: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] · 46 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Gary C. Peters (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] reported raising $5.4 million (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)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-s788 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116