Workers gain stronger discrimination claims, jury trials, and equal damages.
H.R. 9116 — Equal Remedies Act of 2026 · Filed by Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) · 4 cosponsors · Introduced Jun 3, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill expands remedies available to workers who sue for discrimination. It allows workers suing under federal civil rights laws to recover compensatory damages (for emotional pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life) and punitive damages, and guarantees jury trial rights. It extends these same remedies to age discrimination cases, which currently have narrower remedies than race/sex discrimination cases.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to expand legal remedies available to workers alleging employment discrimination, particularly by equalizing age discrimination remedies with those available under Title VII (race, sex, religion, national origin discrimination).
What the text implies
- Punitive damages availability in age discrimination cases may increase settlement costs and litigation risk for employers, potentially affecting hiring/retention decisions for older workers.
- Jury trial guarantee may shift outcomes in discrimination cases, as juries may award higher damages than judges in bench trials.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
employment law firms (plaintiff-side); workers alleging discrimination