United States 119th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 17 D · 13 R cosponsors

HR 4235 — To clarify the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016, to appropriately limit the application of defenses based on the passage of time and other non-merits defenses to claims under that Act.

Last action — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced June 27, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 30 sponsors

    1 primary, 29 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (17 D · 13 R) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

This bill permanently extends and expands judicial authority under the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016. The law allows and establishes procedures for civil claims and causes of action to recover artwork and other property lost between 1933 and 1945 because of Nazi persecution.Among the changes, the bill removes the deadline for filing civil claims or causes of action. Currently, the filing deadline is December 31, 2026. (Claims must still be filed within six years of the claimant's discovery of the property in question.)The bill permits courts to exercise jurisdiction over civil claims or causes of action against a foreign state without regard to the nationality or citizenship of the alleged victim. The art or property at issue must still have a connection to the foreign state's commercial activities in the United States.Additionally, the bill authorizes nationwide service of process, which allows courts to exercise personal jurisdiction over defendants in any judicial district where they may be found, reside, have an agent, or transact business.Finally, the bill limits the defenses that may be asserted against civil claims or causes of action, including by prohibitingdefenses based on the passage of time, including equitable defenses such as laches (i.e., unreasonable delays); anddiscretionary bases for dismissal that are unrelated to the merits of the claim, including international comity (i.e., deference to the laws of other countries).These changes apply to pending and future civil claims or causes of action.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 29 co-sponsors · 517 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (29)

Not signed on (517)

517 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 517 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights elections
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 4235 do?
This bill permanently extends and expands judicial authority under the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016. The law allows and establishes procedures for civil claims and causes of action to recover artwork and other property lost between 1933 and 1945 because of Nazi persecution.Among the changes, the bill removes the deadline for filing civil claims or causes of action. Currently, the filing deadline is December 31, 2026. (Claims must still be filed within six years of the claimant's discovery of the property in question.)The bill permits courts to exercise jurisdiction over civil claims or causes of action against a foreign state without regard to the nationality or citizenship of the alleged victim. The art or property at issue must still have a connection to the foreign state's commercial activities in the United States.Additionally, the bill authorizes nationwide service of process, which allows courts to exercise personal jurisdiction over defendants in any judicial district where they may be found, reside, have an agent, or transact business.Finally, the bill limits the defenses that may be asserted against civil claims or causes of action, including by prohibitingdefenses based on the passage of time, including equitable defenses such as laches (i.e., unreasonable delays); anddiscretionary bases for dismissal that are unrelated to the merits of the claim, including international comity (i.e., deference to the laws of other countries).These changes apply to pending and future civil claims or causes of action.
Who sponsors HR 4235?
HR 4235 is sponsored by Nadler, Jerrold (Democratic), Raskin, Jamie (Democratic), Goodlander, Maggie (Democratic), Fitzgerald, Scott (Republican), Torres, Ritchie (Democratic), Gooden, Lance (Republican), Roy, Chip (Republican), Tenney, Claudia (Republican), Moulton, Seth (Democratic), Lawler, Michael (Republican), Moskowitz, Jared (Democratic), Stefanik, Elise M. (Republican), Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila (Democratic), Diaz-Balart, Mario (Republican), Norton, Eleanor Holmes (Democratic), Schakowsky, Janice D. (Democratic), Fitzpatrick, Brian K. (Republican), Goldman, Daniel S. (Democratic), Gottheimer, Josh (Democratic), Ryan, Patrick (Democratic), Gimenez, Carlos A. (Republican), Kennedy, Timothy M. (Democratic), Cohen, Steve (Democratic), McBride, Sarah (Democratic), Goldman, Craig A. (Republican), Schneider, Bradley Scott (Democratic), Kustoff, David (Republican), Vindman, Eugene Simon (Democratic), Miller, Max L. (Republican), and Lee, Laurel M. (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 4235?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced June 27, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HR 4235?
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