Mens Rea Reform Act of 2025
U.S. Congress · HR59 ·
Progression
Timing in context
Primary sponsor's contributions received (same period)
Adjacency in time is shown for context; it is not evidence of cause. Funded ≠ false — see the methodology.
What the bill says
Introduced 2025-01-03. Latest action: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 13.
Summary (plain-language)
Mens Rea Reform Act of 2025 This bill establishes a default mens rea standard (i.e., state of mind requirement) for federal criminal offenses—statutory and regulatory—that lack an explicit standard. The government must generally prove that a defendant acted knowingly with respect to each element of an offense for which the text does not specify a state of mind.
Sponsors
- Andy Biggs (primary)
- Andrew Ogles
- Chip Roy
Text versions
- Introduced in House — 2025-01-03 — XML
What analysts say
CBO cost estimates
-
H.R. 59, Mens Rea Reform Act
— 2026-05-27
As ordered reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on June 10, 2025
Full estimate published at cbo.gov; it will appear here once an archived or committee-report copy is available.
What politicians say
No linked claims or utterances yet — no one on record has cited this measure to justify a public argument.
Action History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 2025-06-10 | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held |
| 2025-06-10 | Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 13. |
| 2025-01-03 | Introduced in House |
| 2025-01-03 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. |