private bill

English

Noun

private bill (plural private bills)

1. (government, UK) A parliamentary bill promoted by an organisation such as a local authority or company in order to obtain powers to do something.
2. (government, US) An item of legislation for the benefit of a particular individual, not codified with generally applicable laws.
   • 1860 April 7, “From Washington”, in The New York Times:

     The Senate to-day passed upwards of fifty private bills, and the House quite as many. None of them, however, were of much magnitude.

   • 2017 July 11, Emily Cochrane, “Lawmakers Push to Give Terminally Ill British Baby U.S. Residency”, in The New York Times:

     A similar bill was passed in 2012 to give permanent residency to a Nigerian student who sought to pursue a medical degree and continue receiving treatment for a rare genetic disorder that caused large facial tumors. It was the last time a “private bill” became law.

Usage notes

• A private bill differs from a private member's bill.

References

• “private bill”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• "private bills" in the UK Parliament.