# 119-hr-1556: Eric’s Law

119-hr-1556, Eric’s Law, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8] (R-PA); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1556
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-1556
- Congress: 119
- Title: Eric’s Law
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-25
- Sponsor: Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8] (R-PA)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Mandatory second jury in federal capital sentencing.** This bill would require courts to hold a new special hearing and impanel a second jury when an initial jury does not unanimously recommend death, life without release, or another sentence. If the newly impaneled jury also fails to reach a unanimous recommendation, the court would be required to impose a sentence other than death that is authorized by law. - Defendants facing federal death-penalty charges: Would receive a second sentencing jury if the first jury is not unanimous on the recommended punishment. - Courts and prosecutors: The government may move for the new special hearing, and courts must impanel a new jury under the added procedure when the initial recommendation is non-unanimous. - Sentencing outcomes: If the second jury also deadlocks, the judge must impose a non-death sentence authorized by federal law, narrowing when a death sentence can be imposed.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] (R-PA), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Reschenthaler, Guy [R-PA-14] (R-PA), 2025-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8] (R-AZ), 2025-03-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Second jury in federal death cases: cost, low. This bill would change federal death-penalty sentencing. If the first jury cannot agree on death, life without parole, or another sentence, prosecutors could ask for a new hearing. The judge would have to seat a new jury if prosecutors ask. If the second jury still cannot agree, the judge would giv…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7567: Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-987: Fair Access to Banking Act
- 119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-1556 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1556)

## Related
- [119-hr-7567: Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7567)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-987: Fair Access to Banking Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-987)
- [119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9237)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1556 (as of 2026-04-21).