private bill

plural private bills

1. UKgovernmentA parliamentary bill promoted by an organisation such as a local authority or company in order to obtain powers to do something.
2. USgovernmentAn item of legislation for the benefit of a particular individual, not codified with generally applicable laws.

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

   1860 April 7, “From Washington”, in The New York Times

   1 more example

   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.

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