# 119-hr-4310: Back the Blue Act of 2025

119-hr-4310, Back the Blue Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] (R-NE); status introduced (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4310
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-4310
- Congress: 119
- Title: Back the Blue Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-07-10
- Sponsor: Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] (R-NE)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Expand federal crimes and penalties for attacks on law enforcement, judges, and first responders.** The bill would create new federal murder and assault offenses, add a death-penalty aggravating factor, limit some habeas relief in related death cases, broaden sworn officers' armed-carry rights in Federal facilities and school zones, create a separate flight-to-avoid-prosecution offense, and fund a DOJ grant program to support community-police relations and officer wellness. - Law enforcement, judges, and first responders: Creates a new killing offense (Sec. 1123) and a separate assault offense with enhanced penalties. Sentences include minimum prison terms of 10 years, and if death results a minimum of 30 years up to life or possible capital punishment. - Defendants and postconviction process: Adds a new aggravating factor for death-penalty cases and restricts certain federal habeas corpus relief in state-court death cases involving killings of public safety officers or judges. - Officers, prosecutions, and local agencies: Authorizes qualified sworn officers to carry firearms in Federal facilities and school zones and requires the Attorney General to issue implementing regulations within 60 days. It creates a flight-to-avoid-prosecution crime and establishes a DOJ grant program for FY2026–FY2030 funded from specified unobligated DOJ balances to support trust building, training, privacy safeguards, and officer wellness and safety.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2] (D-ME), 2025-07-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7] (R-PA), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Tougher federal penalties for attacking officers: benefit, high. The bill would create new federal crimes for assaulting or killing covered officers and judges, including former officials targeted over their duties. Assault penalties would range from up to 1 year to at least 20 years, depending on injury and weapon use. Killing or trying to kill a covered offici…
- Grants to improve police-community trust: benefit, medium. The government would fund a DOJ grant program in fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Up to $20 million each year could support training, transparency, community partnerships, and officer wellness. Money would come from unused DOJ administration funds and Edward Byrne program funds. Grants could go to s…
- Wider carry rights for qualified officers: benefit, low. Qualified sworn and retired officers would be allowed to carry or possess firearms in some federal buildings and court grounds. They could deposit firearms in secure storage areas at those sites. The bill would also update school-zone and facility rules for qualified officers and cover magazines. T…
- Tighter death penalty rules in officer killings: cost, low. The bill would add a new aggravating factor for death-penalty cases when someone kills or tries to kill first responders, officers, or justice officials. It would also limit federal habeas review in state death cases that involve killings of officers or judges. Courts would face strict time limits…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6575: CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act
- 119-hr-2548: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1065: Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-4310 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4310)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9237)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [119-hr-6575: CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6575)
- [119-hr-2548: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2548)
- [119-hr-1065: Protect Our Letter Carriers Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1065)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4310 (as of 2026-09-21).