WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Congressman Michael Rulli (OH-06) introduced the Stop Serial Litigation Act of 2026 (H.R. 9295), legislation designed to end predatory litigation schemes filed under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).
EAJA, first passed in 1980, was designed to provide everyday citizens with the opportunity to challenge federal government actions without racking up huge legal bills. Unfortunately, this well-meaning legislation has been hijacked by radical special-interest groups with exorbitant budgets and massive legal teams, exploiting loopholes in exchange for taxpayer-funded payouts. The Stop Serial Litigation Act of 2026 puts an end to these schemes while maintaining the right of average Americans to fight back against government overreach and incompetence, as EAJA originally intended.
“Frivolous litigation makes every aspect of our lives worse,” said Congressman Mike Rulli. “These baseless lawsuits slow our courtrooms to a crawl, cause insurance rates and other costs to skyrocket, and make a mockery of our justice system while predatory lawyers and radical interest groups laugh all the way to the bank. The Equal Access to Justice Act is an important tool for redressing wrongs committed by the federal government, and my bill strengthens that mission to ensure we remain a government by the people, for the people.”
The Stop Serial Litigation Act is endorsed by Safari Club International and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
“SCI strongly supports EAJA reform. This bill addresses several existing problems by limiting the fees payable to litigious non-profits, equipping the Department of Justice to contest questionable EAJA claims, and preventing courts from awarding fees well above the statutory limit. SCI thanks Representative Rulli for introducing legislation that corrects issues with EAJA implementation and ensures this law is not just a windfall for non-profits with activist agendas,” said Safari Club International CEO W. Laird Hamberlin.
What the Stop Serial Litigation Act does:
- Creates a $300,000 annual cap on fee awards for any single entity suing the federal government.
- Cuts additional award fee rates in half when an agency disputes the fee as unjustified.
- Strikes the “special factor” language groups use to obtain hourly rates far above the statutory limit.
- Requires attorneys to itemize and document the hours they submit for reimbursement.
- Raises the base hourly rate from $125 to $175 and adjusts it annually for inflation.
- Exempts the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs from any changes the bill makes.
###
