Guidance Clarity Act of 2025

Last action · November 3, 2025: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 250.Sponsors: James Lankford and 3 others

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Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

This bill requires federal agencies to include a specific disclaimer on all new guidance documents stating that the guidance does not have the force of law and is not legally binding. Agencies must begin including this statement 30 days after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issues implementation instructions.

Why it matters

This legislation changes how federal agencies communicate their rules to the public by mandating a standardized disclaimer, which aims to clarify that documents are not legally enforceable statutes.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Federal Agencies

Agencies are required to update their guidance document templates to include the mandatory clarity statement.

Directly affected

Office of Management and Budget

The OMB is tasked with issuing implementation guidance for all other federal agencies within 90 days of the bill's enactment.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 'guidance clarity statement'?

It is a mandatory disclaimer on the first page of documents stating that the document is not legally binding and does not have the force of law.

When will this requirement start?

Agencies must start including the statement 30 days after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issues its own guidance on how to implement this Act.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently on floor. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Passed.

Procedural history

5 actions

Nov 3, 2025Senate
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 250.
Nov 3, 2025Senate
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Paul with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Jul 30, 2025Senate
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jan 13, 2025SenateCommittee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Jan 13, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced in Senate

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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