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HR1205119th Congress

Safe Shelters Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

In Committee

Summary

Would limit access of registered sex offenders to undesignated emergency shelters during disasters. The bill would require FEMA to set aside designated shelters for those offenders, require covered sex offenders to notify shelter operators if they enter an undesignated shelter, and create federal criminal penalties up to 5 years in prison for knowing violations.

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  • Covered sex offenders would be barred from using undesignated emergency shelters except to seek information on designated shelters. If they enter an undesignated shelter they must immediately tell the shelter operator they are required to register on the National Sex Offender Registry; knowingly failing to follow the prohibition or the notification rule while in or affecting interstate commerce could lead to fines or up to 5 years imprisonment.
  • Shelter operators would have to inform any covered offender who enters about the prohibition and about available designated shelters. FEMA must make information on each designated shelter available to operators of undesignated shelters.
  • FEMA could designate a Federal building or Federal prison as a designated shelter for the duration of a disaster. The General Services Administration and the Bureau of Prisons would have to provide FEMA with lists of available federal buildings or federal prisons within 180 days of enactment and on an ongoing basis.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Separate FEMA shelters for registered sex offenders

If enacted, FEMA could name certain federal buildings or federal prisons as designated shelters for registered sex offenders during a declared disaster. The General Services Administration and the Bureau of Prisons would have to give FEMA lists of available sites within 180 days, and keep them updated. FEMA would have to share designated-shelter information with operators of other shelters. The bill defines who is a "covered sex offender" (must register on the national registry) and what counts as designated or undesignated shelters. Designations would last for the duration of the disaster.

Shelter limits for registered sex offenders

If enacted, covered sex offenders would be barred from using regular emergency shelters, except to ask where designated shelters are. If they enter, they would need to immediately tell the shelter operator they are on the national registry. The operator would then need to tell them about any designated shelter and the ban. Knowingly breaking these rules, in or affecting interstate commerce, could bring a federal fine or up to 5 years in prison. These rules would start 180 days after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

SC • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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