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H.R. 59 · 119th Congress

Mens Rea Reform Act of 2025

Introduced Jan 3, 2025Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Read the textOn Congress.gov

Status: In committee

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Law

Latest action

: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 13.

Summary

Mens Rea Reform Act of 2025

This bill establishes a default mens rea standard (i.e., state of mind requirement) for federal criminal offenses—statutory and regulatory—that lack an explicit standard.

The government must generally prove that a defendant acted knowingly with respect to each element of an offense for which the text does not specify a state of mind.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service.

Actions

  1. House

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 13.

  2. House

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

  3. House

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  4. Introduced in House