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119-s-2985119th Congress

Preventing Violence Against Female Inmates Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

Introduced

Summary

Require inmate housing based on biological sex assigned at birth. The bill would define "biological sex" by chromosomes, sex hormones, gonads, and nonambiguous internal and external genitalia present at birth and direct federal and state prison housing to follow that definition.

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  • People in custody: Federal housing decisions would use the bill's definition of biological sex. Facilities may not co-locate people of different biological sexes, with a single exception for temporary placements that do not include overnight housing.
  • State governments: To receive grants under the amended subpart, a State must certify to the Attorney General that it bars co-locating people of different biological sexes in detention and that it uses biological sex for housing determinations. That certification requirement begins in the first fiscal year after enactment.
  • Federal operations: The bill adds a new Section 4052 to Title 18 directing the Bureau of Prisons to follow the biological sex rule and makes a conforming amendment to the chapter's table of sections. The text includes a placeholder tag indicating additional related provisions may follow.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Federal prisons must use biological sex

If enacted, this bill would define “biological sex” for prison housing by chromosomes, hormones, gonads, and nonambiguous genitalia present at birth. It would require the Bureau of Prisons to use that biological sex when placing people. The Bureau could not house people of different biological sexes together, except for short, non-overnight temporary co-location.

States must certify inmate housing by sex

If enacted, this bill would make a State ineligible for certain federal grants unless it certifies to the Attorney General that it separates inmates by biological sex as defined in Sec. 4052. The rule would begin the first fiscal year after enactment. States may allow temporary co-location only for short periods that do not include overnight housing.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

AR • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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