Criminal procedure and sentencing

First, the bill mandates a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for first-degree murder (currently, the mandatory minimum sentence is 30 years imprisonment and the maximum sentence is life imprisonment without parole). The bill also repeals provisions that prohibit the sentencing of individuals under the age of 18 to life imprisonment without parole for first-degree murder.

The bill also establishes a mandatory minimum sentence of

10 years imprisonment for second-degree murder,
10 years imprisonment for kidnapping,
25 years imprisonment for first- degree sexual abuse, and
25 years imprisonment for rape.

Finally, the bill increases the mandatory minimum sentence for

first-degree burglary from 5 years to 10 years imprisonment,
unarmed carjacking from 7 years to 10 years imprisonment,
armed carjacking from 15 years to 20 years imprisonment, and
rape with a prior conviction of a crime of violence from 7 years to 30 years imprisonment.

Sponsors

Andy Biggs (R) AZ

Cosponsors

Byron Donalds (R) FL, Clay Higgins (R) LA

Introduced on
Monday, September 8th, 2025

Subjects
Assault and harassment offenses, Crimes against property, Criminal procedure and sentencing, District of Columbia, Motor vehicles, Sex offenses, Violent crime

HR 5163: To prohibit camping on public property in the District of Columbia.

This bill prohibits camping outdoors on public property in the District of Columbia. The penalty for a violation of the prohibition is a fine of up to $500, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.

Sponsors

William Timmons (R) SC

Cosponsors

None

Introduced on
Thursday, September 4th, 2025

Subjects
Criminal procedure and sentencing, District of Columbia, Homelessness and emergency shelter

HR 5103: Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act

Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act

This bill establishes a commission in the executive branch to advise on certain criminal and immigration matters in the District of Columbia (DC). It also establishes a federal program to ensure that commonly visited areas in DC are cleaned and maintained. (On March 27, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful, which established a similar task force and program.)

First, the bill establishes a commission made up of representatives from the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for DC, Maryland, and Virginia; specified federal agencies; and other designated federal entities. The commission must recommend actions to, among other tasks, address enforcement of federal immigration law in DC, facilitate the provision of federal resources to reduce crime, and assist with recruitment and retention of DC’s Metropolitan Police Department officers.

Next, the bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish a program to coordinate and maintain the cleanliness of commonly visited areas in DC, including monuments, parks, and roads. The program must also restore damaged or removed federal public monuments and similar properties.

The bill’s provisions terminate on January 2, 2029.

Sponsors

John McGuire (R) VA

Cosponsors

Clay Higgins (R) LA, Ken Calvert (R) CA

Introduced on
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025

Subjects
Advisory bodies, Border security and unlawful immigration, Congressional oversight, Crime prevention, Criminal procedure and sentencing, Department of the Interior, District of Columbia, Firearms and explosives, Law enforcement officers, Maryland, Monuments and memorials, Public transit, Virginia

HRES 668: Directing the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to continue its ongoing investigation into the possible mismanagement of the Federal government’s investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell, and for other purposes.

This resolution directs the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to continue its investigation into the federal government’s investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and to release to the public committee records relating to the committee’s investigation, subject to limited exceptions.

Under the resolution, the committee records to be publicly disclosed include unclassified records referring or relating to Epstein’s detention and death; flight logs of aircraft owned or used by Epstein; individuals named in connection with Epstein’s criminal activities, civil settlements, or immunity or plea agreements; immunity deals, sealed settlements, or plea bargains of Epstein or his associates; entities with ties to Epstein’s trafficking or financial networks; and internal Department of Justice communications concerning decisions to investigate or charge Epstein or his associates.

The resolution provides that the committee may withhold or redact portions of records with written justification that such portions contain (1) victims’ personally identifiable information; (2) child sexual abuse materials; (3) images of death, physical abuse, or injury; (4) information which would jeopardize an active federal investigation or prosecution; or (5) classified information. The committee may not withhold or redact records on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.

The resolution states support for the committee’s subpoenas and investigatory actions and encourages timely compliance with them. Additionally, the committee shall issue investigative reports as it deems necessary.

Sponsors

Brian Jack (R) GA

Cosponsors

Virginia Foxx (R) NC, H. Griffith (R) VA, Nicholas Langworthy (R) NY, Erin Houchin (R) IN, Michelle Fischbach (R) MN, Austin Scott (R) GA, Ralph Norman (R) SC, Chip Roy (R) TX

Introduced on
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025

Subjects
Correctional facilities and imprisonment, Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation, Criminal procedure and sentencing, Government information and archives, Government studies and investigations, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Human trafficking, Sex offenses

HR 4922: D. C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safe Act of 2025

DC Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safe Act or the DC CRIMES Act

This bill limits the authority of the District of Columbia (DC) government over its criminal sentencing laws.

The bill eliminates the DC government’s authority to enact any act, resolution, or rule to change any criminal liability sentence in effect on the date of the bill’s enactment.

The bill also (1) reduces the maximum age of a youth offender from 24 years to 18 years, and (2) repeals a provision that allows a DC criminal court to issue a sentence to a youth offender that is less than the mandatory minimum term otherwise required by law. A DC criminal court currently has the discretion to reduce or modify certain criminal sentences for a youth offender under specified circumstances. For example, a DC court may sentence a youth offender to probation in lieu of confinement. (However, this discretion does not apply to several specified violent crimes.)

Additionally, the bill directs the Office of the Attorney General for DC to publish, and update monthly, certain youth offender crime data on a publicly accessible website.

Sponsors

Byron Donalds (R) FL

Cosponsors

Andrew Clyde (R) GA

Introduced on
Friday, August 8th, 2025

Subjects
Criminal justice information and records, Criminal procedure and sentencing, District of Columbia, Government information and archives, Internet, web applications, social media, Juvenile crime and gang violence

HR 4600: RESPECT Act

Sponsors

Nancy Mace (R) SC

Cosponsors

None

Introduced on
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025

Subjects
Criminal procedure and sentencing, Digital media, Right of privacy

S 2255: Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025

Sponsors

Kirsten Gillibrand (D) NY

Cosponsors

Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) MS, Christopher Coons (D) DE, Steve Daines (R) MT

Introduced on
Thursday, July 10th, 2025

Subjects
Congressional oversight, Crime victims, Criminal justice information and records, Criminal procedure and sentencing, Evidence and witnesses, Government information and archives, Government studies and investigations, Human trafficking, Judicial procedure and administration, Legal fees and court costs, Smuggling and trafficking

HR 4323: Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025

Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025

This bill establishes a process to vacate convictions and expunge arrest records for certain criminal offenses committed by victims of human trafficking that directly result from or relate to having been a trafficking victim.

It defines the offenses eligible to be vacated or expunged and sets forth procedures for filing a motion.

The Government Accountability Office must assess the impact of this process, including the number of human trafficking survivors who file motions to vacate convictions or expunge records.

The bill permits certain grants for legal representation to be used to seek post-conviction relief.

Finally, the bill allows a defendant to establish that the offenses were committed under duress by demonstrating that he or she was a victim of human trafficking at the time of the offense.

Sponsors

Russell Fry (R) SC

Cosponsors

None

S 1829: STOP CSAM Act of 2025

Sponsors

Josh Hawley (R) MO

Cosponsors

Richard Durbin (D) IL, Amy Klobuchar (D) MN, Chuck Grassley (R) IA, Mark Kelly (D) AZ

Introduced on
Wednesday, May 21st, 2025

Subjects
Advanced technology and technological innovations, Child safety and welfare, Civil actions and liability, Computers and information technology, Crime victims, Crimes against children, Criminal procedure and sentencing, Digital media, Domestic violence and child abuse, Evidence and witnesses, Federal district courts, Government information and archives, Intergovernmental relations, Internet, web applications, social media, Judicial procedure and administration, Law enforcement administration and funding, Legal fees and court costs, Pornography, Sex offenses

HR 3486: Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025

Stop Illegal Reentry Act

This bill establishes or increases criminal penalties for certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who illegally enter the United States and then commit a felony or illegally reenter the United States.

The bill establishes a mandatory minimum prison term of 5 years and allows a life sentence for an individual who (1) improperly enters, or attempts to improperly enter, the United States; and (2) is subsequently convicted of a felony.

The bill increases the maximum term of imprisonment from 2 years to 5 years for repeated improper entry.

The bill also increases from 2 years to 10 years the maximum term of imprisonment for an individual who had been denied entry into or removed from the United States and who later enters or attempts to enter without prior approval. The bill increases the maximum term of imprisonment from 10 to 15 years if such an individual was convicted of three or more specified types of misdemeanors before removal.

An individual who had been denied entry or removed three or more times and who later enters or attempts to enter the United States shall be fined, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both.

The bill establishes a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and allows a life sentence for an individual who was convicted of a felony before removal, or convicted of illegal reentry at least two times before removal, and who subsequently enters or tries to enter the United States.

Sponsors

Stephanie Bice (R) OK

Cosponsors

Brad Knott (R) NC, Ryan Zinke (R) MT, Derek Schmidt (R) KS

Introduced on
Monday, May 19th, 2025

Subjects
Border security and unlawful immigration, Criminal justice information and records, Criminal procedure and sentencing, Detention of persons, Immigration status and procedures, Violent crime

HR 2816: Shell Company Abuse Act

Sponsors

Wesley Bell (D) MO

Cosponsors

Don Bacon (R) NE, Jason Crow (D) CO, Brian Fitzpatrick (R) PA

Introduced on
Thursday, April 10th, 2025

Subjects
Business ethics, Corporate finance and management, Criminal procedure and sentencing, Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

S 1333: Strengthening Child Exploitation Enforcement Act

Sponsors

John Cornyn (R) TX

Cosponsors

Cory Booker (D) NJ

Introduced on
Tuesday, April 8th, 2025

Subjects
Child safety and welfare, Crimes against children, Criminal procedure and sentencing, Domestic violence and child abuse, Sex offenses, Violent crime

HR 2735: Strengthening Child Exploitation Enforcement Act

Sponsors

Troy Nehls (R) TX

Cosponsors

Madeleine Dean (D) PA, Donald Davis (D) NC, Barry Moore (R) AL, Thomas Tiffany (R) WI

HR 2643: Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025

Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025

This bill requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that are involved in or have direct ties to prominent criminal gangs in Haiti.

Specifically, the Department of State must periodically report to Congress on the ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti. The report must list (1) prominent criminal gangs in Haiti and the leaders thereof, and (2) Haitian political and economic elites who have direct links to criminal gangs and any organizations or entities controlled by these individuals. The President must impose sanctions on listed individuals and entities.

Under the bill, the term economic elites means board members, officers, and executives of groups, corporations, or other entities that exert substantial influence or control over Haiti’s economy, infrastructure, or particular industries. Political elites means current and former government officials and their high-level staff and political party or committee leaders.

The bill also applies civil and criminal penalties to persons that violate, attempt to violate, conspire to violate, or cause a violation of the regulations promulgated to carry out such sanctions.

Sponsors

Gregory Meeks (D) NY

Cosponsors

Michael McCaul (R) TX, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D) FL

Introduced on
Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Subjects
Caribbean area, Congressional oversight, Criminal procedure and sentencing, Foreign aid and international relief, Foreign property, Haiti, Organized crime, Political parties and affiliation, Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents, Rule of law and government transparency, Sanctions, Visas and passports