S. 59 — One Subject at a Time Act

This section requires each bill or joint resolution to embrace no more than one subject, with that subject clearly and descriptively expressed in the title. It further prohibits appropriations bills from containing general legislation or changes to existing law that are not germane to the bill's subject matter, while permitting provisions that impose limitations on the expenditure of appropriated funds.

This section establishes enforcement mechanisms for violations of title and germaneness requirements (as specified in §2), rendering noncompliant Acts or provisions void as follows: (1) voids an entire Act or joint resolution if its title addresses two or more unrelated subjects; (2) voids any provision concerning a subject not clearly expressed in the title of a single-subject Act; (3) voids any provision in an appropriations Act outside the jurisdiction of the relevant House or Senate Appropriations subcommittee; and (4) voids any non-germane general legislation or change to existing law in an appropriations Act. The section further authorizes any aggrieved person or Member of Congress to bring a civil action against the United States under the Declaratory Judgment Act (28 U.S.C. §§2201-2202) seeking appropriate relief, including injunctions against enforcement of noncompliant laws, with de novo judicial review.