Requires the government to prove that a defendant acted with the mental state written into a federal criminal offense, and with knowing conduct for any element where the offense text names no mental state.

Official title: Mens Rea Reform Act of 2025

Next stop House floor: awaiting a vote

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

House

Introduced 03-JAN-2025

Referred 03-JAN-2025

Approved by committee 10-JUN-2025

Key points

Defines "knowingly" and "willfully" and adds a new section 28 to chapter 1 of title 18, United States Code.
Applies the mental state named in an offense's text to each element it covers, and requires proof of knowing conduct for any element the text leaves unstated.
Covers offenses committed on or after enactment, and earlier offenses except where applying the section would punish innocent conduct, increase punishment, or remove an available defense.
Excludes offenses under chapters 47 and 47A of title 10 and offenses incorporated by section 13(a) of title 18.

AI-generated from the Introduced in House text of 03-JAN-2025 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

Current. The Congressional Research Service's summary covers the bill's latest wording (Introduced in House, 03-JAN-2025).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov

Committee referrals (1)

Policy area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Sponsor Andy Biggs (R-AZ) Cosponsors · 2

■ 2 R

2 Republicans

congress.gov page Introduced in House (03-JAN-2025)