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H.R.5791 / 113th Congress

FINER Act of 2014

Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Dec 4, 2014

Fines in Need of Extensive Reform Act of 2014 or the FINER Act of 2014 - Prohibits federal agency rules that provide for an assessment of an administrative fine from taking effect until 90 days after the rule and relevant rule guidance is made available on the agency's website.

Establishes procedures for enforcement of, and challenges to, administrative fines to: (1) prohibit fine assessments unless a particular officer or employee of the agency is responsible for assessing the fine, (2) allow persons to challenge the imposition of a fine in federal court or through alternative dispute resolution by a neutral third party, and (3) require rule violations to be dismissed if the agency officer or employee who assessed the fine is not present in court for any proceedings contesting the fine.

Requires agencies to publish annually in the Federal Register guidance for any rules for which they may assess an administrative fine.

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Allows a person who prevails in contesting a fine to recover reasonable court costs and attorney's fees.

Provides for fine amounts to be deposited into the Treasury. Prohibits fines from being used to supplement or offset the appropriations of the agency that assessed the fine.

Excludes user fees, criminal fines or penalties, or court-imposed fines from the requirements applicable to administrative fines.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Rep. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK-2] · R–OK

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
  • Oversight and Government Reform Committee
12 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.

  2. Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.

  3. Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.

  4. Introduced in House

  5. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.5791 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.5791 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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