# 114-hr-3401: Stopping Over-Criminalization Act of 2015

114-hr-3401, Stopping Over-Criminalization Act of 2015, is a 114th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Rooney, Thomas J. [R-FL-17] (R-FL); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3401
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 114-hr-3401
- Congress: 114
- Title: Stopping Over-Criminalization Act of 2015
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
- Introduced: 2015-07-29
- Sponsor: Rep. Rooney, Thomas J. [R-FL-17] (R-FL)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Stopping Over-Criminalization Act of 2015 This bill amends the federal criminal code to establish a default mens rea (guilty mind) standard for a federal criminal offense, unless the provision of law that defines such offense specifically provides otherwise. A federal criminal offense conviction requires proof that a defendant acted knowingly with respect to each element of the offense. If a defendant might lack reasonable awareness that conduct (e.g., a regulatory offense) is criminally punishable, then a conviction requires proof that the defendant had reason to know the conduct was unlawful. Additionally, the bill amends the federal judicial code to: (1) require the Department of Justice to develop, publish, and update an inventory of all federal criminal offenses, including agency rules that carry criminal penalties; and (2) prohibit prosecuting a defendant for a non-inventoried federal offense. Finally, it amends the Congressional Review Act to require congressional approval by joint resolution for a new rule with criminal penalties to take effect.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Richmond, Cedric L. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2015-07-29T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 114-hr-5621: To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Doby in recognition of his achievements and contributions to American major league…
- 114-hr-5166: WINGMAN Act
- 114-hr-4938: Free File Act of 2016
- 114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act
- 114-hr-3986: High School Football Safety Study Act
- 114-hr-3742: Access to Marketplace Insurance Act

## Sources
- [114-hr-3401 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3401)

## Related
- [114-hr-5621: To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Dob…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5621)
- [114-hr-5166: WINGMAN Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5166)
- [114-hr-4938: Free File Act of 2016](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4938)
- [114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4592)
- [114-hr-3986: High School Football Safety Study Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3986)
- [114-hr-3742: Access to Marketplace Insurance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3742)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3401 (as of 2025-11-18).