Criminal Justice (Domestic Violence)

Protection for Reservation Occupants against Trafficking and Evasive Communications Today Act of 2025 or the PROTECT Act of 2025 This bill expands special tribal criminal jurisdiction (STCJ) to include certain controlled substance-related offenses and firearms offenses. It also allows tribal courts to execute warrants for electronic material. STCJ allows participating tribes to investigate, prosecute, convict, and sentence both Indian and non-Indian offenders who commit covered crimes in Indian country against Indian victims. Covered crimes currently include assault of tribal justice personnel, child violence, dating violence, domestic violence, obstruction of justice, sexual violence, sex trafficking, stalking, and a violation of a protection order. The bill expands STCJ to allow participating tribes to prosecute individuals for controlled substance-related offenses (i.e., drug trafficking, unlawful drug possession, or unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia) and firearms offenses (i.e., use or possession of a firearm in furtherance of a covered crime or by a person who has been convicted of domestic violence). Additionally, the bill allows participating tribes to exercise STCJ over a controlled substance-related offense or a firearms offense if neither the defendant nor the alleged victim is an Indian. (Currently, this exception only applies in cases of obstruction of justice or assault of tribal justice personnel.) The bill allows offenders convicted pursuant to STCJ to be incarcerated through the Bureau of Prisons Tribal Prisoner Program. The bill gives tribal courts the same authority as state courts to compel service providers to disclose stored electronic communication information through court-issued warrants, court orders, or administrative subpoenas.

HR 3773 (PROTECT Act of 2025) amends federal law to recognize tribal courts as having authority equivalent to state courts for certain electronic evidence cases. It requires that warrants for electronic communications stored 180 days or less must follow procedures from the Indian Civil Rights Act (25 U.S.C. 1302(a)(2)) when issued by tribal courts. The bill also expands tribal jurisdiction over controlled substance offenses (like drug trafficking or possession) and firearms offenses (such as possession by domestic violence offenders) by defining these terms for tribal courts. This directly affects tribal courts and tribal law enforcement by standardizing legal procedures for evidence handling and broadening their authority under federal law. The changes align tribal court processes with federal and state standards for digital evidence and criminal jurisdiction.

This bill expands federal protections for domestic violence and stalking survivors by broadening key definitions. It adds current and former dating partners to the definition of "intimate partner" and includes their children under domestic violence protections. The bill also creates a new federal definition for "misdemeanor crime of stalking" that explicitly includes causing fear for a victim's pet, service animal, or emotional support animal, and prohibits firearm possession for those convicted of such stalking offenses. These changes directly affect survivors of dating violence and stalking, as well as individuals convicted of misdemeanor stalking under federal, state, or tribal law.

This bill requires states that mandate licensing training for cosmetologists and barbers to add free, state-approved domestic violence training for license seekers. The training teaches professionals to recognize abuse signs, respond appropriately, and refer clients to victim resources - optionally including sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence. States meeting this requirement can receive up to a 10% grant increase for domestic violence programs, with grants renewable for up to three years. The bill authorizes $5 million annually (2027-2033) to fund these grants, directly affecting cosmetology/barber license applicants and domestic violence service providers.

This bill creates a federal grant program to provide legal resources for individuals seeking extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), which temporarily remove firearms from people deemed a risk to themselves or others. It authorizes $50 million annually (2027-2031) for states, local governments, and tribes to fund legal counsel, multilingual resource centers, and training for legal and law enforcement staff on ERPO processes. The grants specifically aim to help "covered petitioners" (those eligible to request ERPOs) access representation and understand the legal process, including distinguishing ERPOs from domestic violence protection orders. The bill does not change ERPO standards or create new court jurisdiction but ensures petitioners have legal support.

This bill amends the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to improve services for victims of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. It authorizes $270 million annually from 2027-2031 for services including trauma-informed residential and non-residential programs, national hotlines, and culturally specific services for underserved populations. The bill requires grantees to provide accessible services, protect victim confidentiality, and not impose income eligibility requirements or fees for services. It also creates a National Indian Domestic Violence Hotline and supports community-based prevention programs for underserved racial and ethnic populations and Tribal communities.

SRES 46 designates January 2025 as "National Stalking Awareness Month" to promote public education about stalking. The resolution highlights stalking's prevalence (affecting 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men in the U.S.) and encourages efforts by victim services, law enforcement, schools, and organizations to support victims and improve responses. It does not create new laws but urges increased awareness and resource availability through coordinated community action during this designated month.

The Invest to Protect Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to support local law enforcement agencies with fewer than 175 officers. Eligible communities - including counties, municipalities, and Tribal governments - can use funds for de-escalation training, mental health and domestic violence response training, officer retention bonuses, graduate education stipends, and access to behavioral health services for officers. The program requires grantees to report on outcomes and publicly disclose bonus amounts, with strict audit requirements to prevent misuse of funds. It authorizes $50 million annually from 2026 to 2030 to advance these concrete safety and support initiatives.

The Fairness for Crime Victims Act of 2025 requires that the Crime Victims Fund - used to support victims of crime, particularly child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence - be maintained at or above a three-year average funding level in annual appropriations bills. It adds a procedural rule in both the Senate and House to block any provision that would reduce the fund below this average, unless the reduction is under $2 billion. This rule aims to prevent Congress from withholding funds collected from convicted criminals (which have historically been underdisbursed, with over $10 billion withheld since 2000) and ensures consistent funding for victim services. The bill does not alter the fund’s purpose but enforces existing law by requiring full disbursement of collected funds.

HR 4040, the SALONS Stories Act, increases federal grants for states that require cosmetologists and barbers to complete free domestic violence prevention training as part of their licensing process. This training, provided by anti-domestic violence nonprofits, teaches professionals to recognize signs of abuse, respond appropriately, and refer clients to support resources. States with such laws can receive up to a 10% grant increase under the Omnibus Crime Control Act, with funding capped at $5 million annually from 2026-2032. The bill directly affects states implementing this training mandate, beauty industry professionals, and domestic violence survivors seeking help during salon services.