YourVoice.Now Summary
Civil LibertiesYour MoneyCross-state lawsuits would need $150,000 at stake, up from $75,000, to get into federal court — with inflation updates from 2030
Civil Liberties
Federal courts can hear a lawsuit between people from different states, or with foreign citizens, only if enough money is at stake. That bar rises from more than $75,000 to at least $150,000, so smaller cases stay in state court and cannot be moved to federal court.
Starting January 1, 2030, and every 10 years after, the $150,000 minimum would be adjusted for changes in consumer prices. It is rounded to the nearest $25,000 and published in the Federal Register by November 15 the year before.
Your Money
If you bring a cross-state case in federal court and the court awards you less than the minimum, the judge may refuse your court costs and may charge you costs. That cutoff moves from $75,000 to $150,000.
More about this bill
Lawsuits between people or companies from different states would need more money at stake to be heard in federal court. Today, federal courts can take these cases when more than $75,000 is at stake. The bill would raise that minimum to $150,000. Smaller cases would stay in state court. A party being sued could no longer move such a case from state court to federal court. Starting January 1, 2030, the minimum would be updated every 10 years to follow consumer prices. Each update would be rounded to the nearest $25,000. The federal courts' main office would publish each new amount by November 15 of the year before. If you sue in federal court and win less than the minimum, a judge could deny your court costs. The judge could also make you pay costs. The Senate passed the bill in August 2026.
Congressional Summary
Diversity Jurisdiction Inflation Adjustment Act This bill raises the minimum amount in controversy for federal diversity jurisdiction. Under current law, federal courts have jurisdiction over civil cases in which the monetary amount in controversy exceeds $75,000 and there is diversity of citizenship among the parties (e.g., the parties are citizens of different states). This bill raises the minimum amount in controversy from $75,000 to $150,000 and adjusts the amount for inflation every 10 years beginning in 2030.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Passed Senate
- Action Date
- 2026-08-07
- Date Added
- 2026-10-02
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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