True Justice Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
Introduced
Summary
Expand access to post-arrest legal representation. This bill would create federal grants and training to help ensure people have counsel at initial appearances and other post-arrest proceedings.
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- People arrested: Would increase the chance of getting a lawyer during initial appearances and other early post-arrest hearings by funding direct representation services.
- Public defenders and appointed attorneys: Would receive training grants to learn best practices and receive support for technology and other tools needed to represent clients in post-arrest proceedings.
- States, local governments, tribes, public defender offices, and eligible nonprofits: Could apply for grants. The Attorney General would weigh technology costs and the relative size of each justice system when setting award amounts.
*This bill would authorize up to $50.0 million in federal appropriations each year from 2026 through 2030, increasing federal outlays during that period.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants for public defenders after arrest
If enacted, the Attorney General would give grants to states, local governments, and public defender offices to provide lawyers after arrest, including at the first court appearance. Separate grants would fund training for public defenders and court-appointed or contract lawyers, and nonprofits could apply for training funds. The bill would authorize $50 million each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Applicants would apply as the Attorney General requires, and awards would weigh technology and training costs and the size of each justice system.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov