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LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-4197| House 
| Updated: 6/26/2025
Chris Pappas

Chris Pappas

Democratic Representative

New Hampshire

Cosponsors (55)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)April McClain Delaney (Democratic)Nikema Williams (Democratic)Becca Balint (Democratic)John Garamendi (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Jared Huffman (Democratic)Gabe Amo (Democratic)Jennifer L. McClellan (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Maxwell Frost (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Andrea Salinas (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Jasmine Crockett (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Al Green (Democratic)Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic)Emilia Strong Sykes (Democratic)Hillary J. Scholten (Democratic)Marilyn Strickland (Democratic)Jahana Hayes (Democratic)Morgan McGarvey (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)LaMonica McIver (Democratic)Mark Takano (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Sharice Davids (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Timothy M. Kennedy (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Sarah McBride (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Valerie P. Foushee (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation aims to amend federal law by prohibiting the use of a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression as a defense in criminal proceedings. Specifically, it prevents nonviolent sexual advances or a defendant's perception of a victim's gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation from being used to excuse, justify, or mitigate the severity of an offense. This measure seeks to eliminate what are commonly known as panic defenses in federal courts, which Congress finds to be anachronistic and undermine justice. The bill includes a provision allowing for the admission of evidence regarding a defendant's prior trauma , in accordance with Federal Rules of Evidence, for the purpose of excusing, justifying, or mitigating conduct. Furthermore, it mandates that the Attorney General submit annual reports to Congress. These reports must detail federal prosecutions of capital and noncapital crimes committed against LGBTQ individuals that were motivated by the victim's gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4432
LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2023
Jun 26, 2025
Introduced in House
Jun 26, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jun 27, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2201
Introduced in Senate
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4432
    LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2023


  • June 26, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • June 26, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • June 27, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2201
    Introduced in Senate

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 119-2201: LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025

LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-4197| House 
| Updated: 6/26/2025
This legislation aims to amend federal law by prohibiting the use of a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression as a defense in criminal proceedings. Specifically, it prevents nonviolent sexual advances or a defendant's perception of a victim's gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation from being used to excuse, justify, or mitigate the severity of an offense. This measure seeks to eliminate what are commonly known as panic defenses in federal courts, which Congress finds to be anachronistic and undermine justice. The bill includes a provision allowing for the admission of evidence regarding a defendant's prior trauma , in accordance with Federal Rules of Evidence, for the purpose of excusing, justifying, or mitigating conduct. Furthermore, it mandates that the Attorney General submit annual reports to Congress. These reports must detail federal prosecutions of capital and noncapital crimes committed against LGBTQ individuals that were motivated by the victim's gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4432
LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2023
Jun 26, 2025
Introduced in House
Jun 26, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jun 27, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2201
Introduced in Senate
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4432
    LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2023


  • June 26, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • June 26, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • June 27, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2201
    Introduced in Senate
Chris Pappas

Chris Pappas

Democratic Representative

New Hampshire

Cosponsors (55)
Dwight Evans (Democratic)April McClain Delaney (Democratic)Nikema Williams (Democratic)Becca Balint (Democratic)John Garamendi (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Jared Huffman (Democratic)Gabe Amo (Democratic)Jennifer L. McClellan (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Maxwell Frost (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Andrea Salinas (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Delia C. Ramirez (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Jasmine Crockett (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Al Green (Democratic)Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic)Emilia Strong Sykes (Democratic)Hillary J. Scholten (Democratic)Marilyn Strickland (Democratic)Jahana Hayes (Democratic)Morgan McGarvey (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)LaMonica McIver (Democratic)Mark Takano (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Sharice Davids (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Timothy M. Kennedy (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Sarah McBride (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Josh Gottheimer (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Valerie P. Foushee (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • S 119-2201: LGBTQ+ Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted