What is an omnibus law?
Asked by: Lamont Schimmel | Last update: February 2, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (1 votes)
An omnibus law is a single legislative bill that bundles together multiple, often unrelated, policy proposals or appropriations into one large package for a single vote, using the Latin word "omnibus" meaning "for all" or "everything". This approach streamlines the legislative process by allowing lawmakers to pass many measures at once, especially to avoid government shutdowns (like spending bills) or to enact broad reforms (like Indonesia's Job Creation Law) but can also limit debate on individual components.
What's the difference between omnibus and regular laws?
An omnibus bill is a single piece of legislation that packages together multiple smaller bills—often including all or most of the annual appropriations (spending) bills—into one massive bill that is voted on as a single package.
What does omnibus mean in legal terms?
In law, "omnibus" refers to something that covers many things at once, such as an omnibus bill bundling multiple laws, an omnibus clause in a contract or will broadly covering unspecified items (like leftover estate assets), or an omnibus motion combining several legal requests into one document, all for convenience or to handle complex, related matters. The Latin root means "for all" or "everything," explaining its use for comprehensive or catch-all provisions.
What is the purpose of an omnibus bill?
Omnibus is derived from Latin and means "to, for, by, with or from everything". An omnibus bill is a single document that is accepted in a single vote by a legislature but packages together several measures into one or combines diverse subjects.
How does an omnibus law get passed?
An omnibus spending bill is a type of bill in the United States that packages many of the smaller ordinary appropriations bills into one larger single bill that can be passed with only one vote in each house of Congress.
What Is Omnibus Legislation? - CountyOffice.org
What is the purpose of an omnibus law?
An omnibus bill is a type of legislation that combines multiple issues into a single document. This approach is often used for convenience, allowing lawmakers to address several matters at once rather than introducing separate bills for each topic.
Will the government shut down on October 1, 2025?
From October 1 to November 12, 2025, the federal government of the United States was shut down as Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year.
Why is it called an omnibus?
The word "omnibus" originates from Latin, meaning "for all" or "for everyone," derived from the dative plural of omnis (all). It was applied to horse-drawn public transport in 19th-century France, a pun connecting it to a Nantes hatter named Omnès (or Omnes) and his shop, which offered "everything for everyone" ("omnes omnibus"). The term was adopted into English, eventually shortened to "bus," and also describes legislative or literary collections covering multiple subjects.
What is the meaning of omnibus in court?
A hearing at which the court hears a variety of different matters in the same bankruptcy case.
What is the literal meaning of omnibus?
An omnibus is something that covers many things at once, deriving from the Latin for "for all," and most commonly refers to a large piece of legislation bundling many smaller bills (like appropriations) or, in publishing/broadcasting, a collection of works (books, TV shows) in one volume or broadcast. It can also refer to a large passenger vehicle, essentially a bus, though this usage is less common now.
What is another word for omnibus?
An omnibus is another word for a bus, as in a large vehicle carrying lots of passengers. Other names are autobus and coach.
What is an omnibus order in law?
Omnibus Order means the Final Order of the Bankruptcy Court authorizing the Company and its Subsidiaries to enter into and execute definitive Transaction Documents and approving the Transactions under Sections 105, 363, 364 and 365 of the Bankruptcy Code and applicable Bankruptcy Rules, in form and substance reasonably ...
What does omnibus mean legally?
An omnibus clause is a contractual provision that broadly covers matters, items, terms, or conditions that were not specifically included in the instrument or provided by statute. Such clauses are primarily used in insurance contracts and in drafting a last will and testament.
What did the omnibus rule of 2013 do?
The key provisions of the HIPAA Omnibus Rule were: Make business associates of covered entities directly liable for HIPAA compliance. Strengthen the limitations on uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information. Expand individuals' rights to restrict disclosures of Protected Health Information.
What are the omnibus rules?
The Omnibus Rule expands the definition of a “business associate” to include all entities that create, receive, maintain, or transmit PHI on behalf of a covered entity,7 making clear that companies that store PHI on behalf of health care providers and health plans are business associates.
What not to say to a judge in court?
You should not say anything sarcastic, interrupt the judge, lie, use slang, make personal attacks on others, guarantee outcomes, or speak about things not relevant to the case; instead, remain respectful, address the judge as "Your Honor," answer only the question asked, and be direct and truthful to maintain credibility.
What is the hardest case to win in court?
The hardest cases to win in court often involve high emotional stakes, like crimes against children or sexual assault, where jurors struggle with bias; complex, voluminous evidence, such as white-collar fraud; and defenses that challenge societal norms, like an insanity plea, which faces high scrutiny and conflicting expert testimony. Cases with weak physical evidence, uncooperative witnesses (like in sex crimes), or those involving unpopular defendants (e.g., child abusers) are particularly challenging for defense attorneys.
What is the point of an omnibus?
Omnibus editions help consolidate longer series into fewer books. The prices are usually equal to or less than the price of buying each individual edition separately.
What is the word omnibus short for?
The word bus is a shortened form of the Latin adjectival form omnibus ("for all"), the dative plural of omnis/omne ("all"). The theoretical full name is in French voiture omnibus ("vehicle for all").
Why is it called an ombudsman?
The word ombudsman comes from Swedish, derived from Old Norse, meaning a "representative" or "commission man," established by Sweden in 1809 as an official to represent citizens' complaints against the government. It combines umbud (commission, proxy) and man (man), though modern usage aims for gender neutrality with terms like ombudsperson, originating from a Scandinavian tradition of royally appointed officials.
Do people still get Social Security if the government shuts down?
Yes, Social Security and SSI payments will continue to be paid on schedule during a government shutdown because they are considered mandatory spending and are funded through trust funds, not annual appropriations. While benefits are safe, some other SSA services, like processing new applications or appeals and issuing benefit verification letters, might experience delays due to reduced staffing in local offices, though field offices generally remain open.
Is Social Security at risk in 2025?
The brief's key findings are: The 2025 Trustees Report shows a modest increase in Social Security's 75-year deficit, while the depletion date for the retirement trust fund remains at 2033.
Can I still get my passport with the government shut down?
Yes, you can generally get a passport during a government shutdown because the U.S. Passport Agency is considered essential and funded by fees, so it stays open, but services might slow down or be affected if passport offices are in other federal buildings that close, potentially causing delays. Expect processing to continue, but be prepared for potential slowdowns and limited access to agency locations.