Read the Bills Act

S 55, the "Read the Bills Act," requires all congressional bills and resolutions to include specific constitutional authority citations (Section 105a), display current law text alongside proposed changes (Section 105b), and undergo verbatim readings before final votes (Section 105c). It mandates that lawmakers sign sworn affidavits confirming they either listened to the full reading or personally read the bill before voting, with non-compliant bills deemed unenforceable (Section 105d). The bill directly affects every bill introduced in Congress, all members of Congress voting on bills, and the public through mandated transparency measures. Key mechanisms include 7-day public posting of bill text, mandatory verbatim readings by clerks, and affidavit records maintained by each chamber. This bill aims to ensure lawmakers and the public have full access to bill content before passage, addressing concerns about unread bills leading to complex legislation.