Rep. Laurel Lee Introduces Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Modernization Act to Reduce Court Backlogs and Improve Access to Justice ... legislation to modernize federal court jurisdiction by raising the amount-in-controversy threshold for diversity cases from $75,000 to $500,000.
I will work to modernize federal court jurisdiction by raising the amount-in-controversy threshold for diversity cases from $75,000 to $500,000 to reduce court backlogs and improve access to justice.
Occurrences
introduced the Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Modernization Act to raise the diversity-jurisdiction amount-in-controversy threshold from $75,000 to $500,000, saying the reform is meant to reduce federal-court caseloads and improve timely resolution
introduced the Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Modernization Act, legislation to modernize federal court jurisdiction by raising the amount-in-controversy threshold for diversity cases from $75,000 to $500,000
Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15) today introduced the Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Modernization Act, legislation to modernize federal court jurisdiction by raising the amount-in-controversy threshold for diversity cases from $75,000 to $500,000.
Evidence
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“Congresswoman Laurel Lee (FL-15) today introduced the Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Modernization Act, legislation to modernize federal court jurisdiction by raising the amount-in-controversy threshold for diversity cases from $75,000 to $500,000.”
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Latest News highlights the same April 22, 2026 introduction of the Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Modernization Act, describing it as raising the amount-in-controversy threshold for diversity cases from $75,000 to $500,000.
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Congress.gov member page lists Laurel M. Lee’s sponsored legislation in the 119th Congress, confirming ongoing legislative activity but no indication in the accessible snippet that the diversity-jurisdiction proposal has advanced beyond introduction.
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The Clerk’s member page confirms Laurel M. Lee is serving in the 119th Congress and holds Judiciary committee assignments, including Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, which is the relevant venue for federal-courts jurisdiction legislation.
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Status: Introduced on April 22 2026 - 25% progression. Action: 2026-04-22 - Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Sponsor: Rep. Laurel Lee [R-FL]. Title: Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Modernization Act of 2026.
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28 U.S.C. 1332 states that district courts have original jurisdiction where the matter in controversy exceeds $75,000, and the statutory notes identify the 1996 amendment substituting $75,000 for $50,000.
Assessments
Lee made a direct same-term legislative effort by introducing H.R. 8449, the Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Modernization Act of 2026, which matches the promised change from $75,000 to $500,000. But the bill remains only introduced and referred to House Judiciary, and the current official text of 28 U.S.C. 1332 still uses the $75,000 threshold. Because the promised statutory modernization has not been enacted, this is a failed delivery with a serious effort badge rather than partial or full fulfillment.
Lee explicitly pursued the promised policy by introducing the Federal Diversity Jurisdiction Modernization Act in April 2026 to raise the diversity-jurisdiction amount-in-controversy threshold from $75,000 to $500,000. That is a direct match to the promise and shows meaningful legislative effort during her current term. However, the provided evidence shows introduction only and does not show passage, enactment, or implementation of the threshold change. Because the promised outcome was worked on but not completed, the best judgment is partial rather than delivered.