Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The Restoring Equal Opportunity Act would eliminate "disparate impact" claims under federal civil rights law, a legal doctrine that currently allows people to challenge employment and housing practices that are neutral on their surface but have a disproportionate negative effect on protected groups like racial minorities or women. The bill amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act to prohibit such claims, meaning plaintiffs would need to prove intentional discrimination rather than showing that a policy's effects are unequal. Additionally, the legislation nullifies certain decades-old federal regulations that previously authorized agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Justice to enforce disparate impact protections. The bill affects employers, housing providers, federal agencies, and any individuals or groups who have relied on disparate impact lawsuits to challenge discriminatory practices. No specific funding or timeline is included in the legislation.
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