Safeguarding Honest Speech Act

Summary#

This bill, the Safeguarding Honest Speech Act of 2026, would stop federal agencies and Departments from using money to make employees or contractors call a person by preferred pronouns that the bill says conflict with that person's sex, or to use a name other than a person’s legal name. It requires agencies to respond within 30 days to a written complaint about a violation. If the response is not satisfactory, the employee or contractor can sue the agency within one year. Courts could order injunctive relief, award compensatory damages, award punitive damages up to $100,000, and require payment of attorneys' fees. The bill also defines "female," "male," "sex," and "person."

What it means for you#

• If you are an employee or contractor of a federal agency or Department, the bill would bar agency rules that force you to use preferred pronouns incompatible with the bill's definition of sex or to use names other than a person's legal name.
• If you believe an agency violated this rule, you can send a written notice and the agency must give a formal response within 30 days.
• If you are not satisfied with the agency's response, you may file a civil lawsuit against the agency within one year.
• If a court finds a violation, it may order stops to the practice (injunctive relief), payment for losses, punitive damages up to $100,000, and attorneys' fees.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on estimated costs or savings is included in the bill text or provided metadata.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.