# 119-hr-4197: LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025

119-hr-4197, LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-NH); status introduced (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4197
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-4197
- Congress: 119
- Title: LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-06-26
- Sponsor: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-NH)
- Cosponsors: 62
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-16

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (62)

- Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] (D-MN), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30] (D-TX), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13] (D-OH), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10] (D-WA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-CA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3] (D-KS), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3] (D-KY), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (D-TX), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8] (D-CA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32] (D-CA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] (D-OR), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2025-07-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2025-07-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2025-07-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2025-07-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2025-07-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3] (D-MI), 2025-08-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] (D-CO), 2025-09-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6] (D-MD), 2025-10-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2026-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2026-03-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2026-04-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2026-06-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (D-MA), 2026-08-20T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Ban LGBTQ panic defense in federal court: benefit, low. 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. Court…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-15: Equality Act
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025
- 119-hr-12: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2763: American Family Act
- 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-4197 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4197)

## Related
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [119-hr-12: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-12)
- [119-hr-2763: American Family Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2763)
- [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4197 (as of 2026-10-16).