This bill strengthens oversight of antitrust settlements and voluntary dismissals by amending the Clayton Act's rules for consent judgments. The legislation shortens the public comment period on proposed settlements from 60 to 45 days while requiring courts to verify that settlements actually remedy anticompetitive conduct and don't create new risks of antitrust violations. It also introduces new transparency requirements, mandating disclosure of all remedies considered, government communications related to the case, and any benefits offered to government officials. Additionally, the bill prevents companies from simply walking away from antitrust cases: if the federal government or FTC tries to voluntarily dismiss a case, state attorneys general have 45 days to request to take over the litigation, and courts must allow this substitution unless presented with clear and convincing evidence that the claims lack merit. The bill applies to both the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission and gives judges greater authority to reject settlements they deem inadequate to protect competition.
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