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119-hr-4197119th Congress

LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would prohibit the use of "panic" defenses that rely on a victim's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression in federal criminal cases. It would add a new Section 28 to Title 18 and require the Attorney General to submit an annual report on federal prosecutions of crimes motivated by bias against LGBTQ people.

Show full summary
  • LGBTQ victims: Stops defendants from arguing a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity justifies or lessens their crime, aiming to reduce biased acquittals and lighter sentences.
  • Courts and defendants: Bars evidence based on nonviolent sexual advances, perceptions, or beliefs about gender or orientation as an excuse or mitigation. Courts could still admit a defendant's prior trauma when allowed under the Federal Rules of Evidence.
  • Attorney General and Congress: Requires an annual report detailing federal capital and noncapital prosecutions motivated by bias against a victim's gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Ban LGBTQ panic defense in federal court

If enacted, federal courts would not allow a nonviolent sexual advance to excuse a defendant’s actions. They also could not use the victim’s gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation to justify their conduct. This ban would apply even if the defendant’s belief was mistaken. Courts could still admit evidence of the defendant’s prior trauma under the Federal Rules of Evidence. The Attorney General would report yearly on bias-motivated federal cases against LGBTQ people. The rule would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

NH • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]

    KS • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]

    KY • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/2/2025

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 8/5/2025

  • Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 8/5/2025

  • Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 9/17/2025

  • Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 10/28/2025

  • Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/3/2026

  • Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 3/16/2026

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 4/21/2026

  • Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 6/29/2026

  • Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 8/20/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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