PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2001

See also H.R. 333.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 1, 2001

Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2001 - Amends Federal bankruptcy law governing: (1) conversion of bankruptcy petitions; (2) abusive creditor practices; (3) debt reaffirmation and credit counseling; (4) domestic support obligations; (5) personal injury claims resulting from drug or alcohol-impaired operation of a motor vehicle or vessel; (6) Federal criminal law enforcement regarding abusive reaffirmations of debt; (7) fraudulent bankruptcy schedules; (8) education and retirement benefits; (9) privacy protection of debtor's nonpublic personal information; and (10) nondischargeability of debts resulting from civil restitution or damages for debtor's willful or malicious injury that caused personal injury or death of an individual, or violations of laws relating to the provision of lawful goods and services.Prescribes guidelines regarding: (1) discouragement of bankruptcy abuse; (2) general and small business bankruptcy; (3) bankruptcy data dissemination and bankruptcy tax provisions; (4) incorporation into the bankruptcy code of the Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency; and (5) financial contracts and transfers entered into with an insolvent insured depository institution before its conservatorship or receivership (including securities broker/commodity broker liquidation).Reenacts Chapter 12, Adjustment of Debts of a Family Farmer with Regular Annual Income. Prescribes guidelines for insolvent health care businesses and attendant patients' rights.Mandates appointments and extensions for certain additional temporary bankruptcy judgeships.Prescribes additional consumer credit disclosures.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] · R–IA

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
7 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. See also H.R. 333.

  2. Held at the desk.

  3. Received in the House.

  4. Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  5. Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 83 - 15. Record Vote Number: 36. (text as passed Senate: 3/19/2001 CR S2480-2530)

    Senate roll call 36 · Individual votes
  6. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 83 - 15. Record Vote Number: 36.(text as passed Senate: 3/19/2001 CR S2480-2530)

    Senate roll call 36 · Individual votes
  7. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2324-2339, S2343-2379)

  8. Cloture invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 80 - 19. Record Vote Number: 29.

    Senate roll call 29 · Individual votes
  9. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2273-2297, S2299-2300)

  10. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2172-2180, S2184-2214)

  11. Cloture motion on the bill presented in Senate.

  12. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2142-2159)

  13. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2105-2013)

  14. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2018-2054)

  15. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S1925-1962)

  16. Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.

  17. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 16.

  18. Committee on the Judiciary. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Grassley. Without written report.

  19. Committee on the Judiciary. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Grassley. Without written report.

  20. Introduced in Senate

  21. Committee on the Judiciary ordered to be reported an original measure.

Bill text & related measures

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

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.420 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.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.420 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.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.420 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.420 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources