# 119-s-2196: Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025

119-s-2196, Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2196
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2196
- Congress: 119
- Title: Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-06-26
- Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN)
- Cosponsors: 17
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Would broaden federal firearm prohibitions to cover more dating partners and certain stalking convictions.** It would redefine “dating relationship” as a “continuing serious relationship” and add a new federal misdemeanor for stalking with rules about when a conviction can trigger gun bans. - Families and survivors: More relationships qualify as an “intimate partner,” including dating partners and people protected under State or Tribal domestic violence laws, and situations where someone dated a victim’s parent or guardian. - People charged with stalking: The bill defines misdemeanor stalking as a course of harassment or surveillance that causes reasonable fear or emotional distress. A conviction counts for firearm prohibitions only if the defendant had counsel or knowingly waived counsel and jury trial rights. - Gun owners and eligibility officials: Misdemeanor stalking convictions would be added to the list of offenses that can bar someone from shipping, possessing, or receiving firearms, though expunged, set aside, pardoned, or restored-rights convictions do not count unless they expressly say so.

## Cosponsors (17)

- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT] (I-VT), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-07-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2025-12-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (D-MN), 2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL), 2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] (D-NH), 2025-12-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI] (D-RI), 2025-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (D-NV), 2025-12-10T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Misdemeanor stalking can block guns: cost, high. If enacted, certain misdemeanor stalking convictions would count as a federal gun disqualifier. You would be barred from buying, receiving, or possessing firearms if convicted under the new definition. A conviction would count for this purpose only if the defendant had counsel or knowingly waived c…
- Wider definition of intimate partner: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would expand who counts as an "intimate partner" to include people in current or recent dating or similar relationships. It would replace the term "dating relationship" with a defined "continuing serious relationship" of a romantic or intimate nature. It would also expand the m…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act
- 119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-2196 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2196)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-2295: Child Care for Working Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2295)
- [119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-852)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2196 (as of 2026-08-11).