Criminal Justice (Domestic Violence)

The Background Check Expansion Act requires most private firearm transfers between unlicensed individuals to go through a licensed dealer, who must conduct a background check as if the dealer were selling the firearm. Exceptions include transfers between close family members (like parents and children), law enforcement, temporary safety-related transfers (e.g., preventing domestic violence), and transfers for hunting or target shooting with specific safeguards. Licensed dealers must provide a notice about the background check requirement and have the buyer sign a certification form. The bill does not create a national gun registry and preserves states' authority to enact stricter firearm laws. It takes effect 180 days after enactment.

The Invest to Protect Act of 2025 establishes a $50 million annual grant program (2027-2031) for local governments employing fewer than 175 law enforcement officers, including counties, municipalities, and Tribal governments. Grants fund de-escalation training, victim-centered domestic violence response training, evidence-based safety training for scenarios like mental health crises or active shooters, recruitment/retention bonuses (capped at 20% of salary), and mental health resources for officers. Recipients must report on program use, disclose bonus amounts publicly, and comply with audits to prevent misuse of funds. The bill aims to improve officer safety and community relations through targeted support for smaller law enforcement agencies.

This bill requires prosecutors in jurisdictions with 100,000+ residents receiving federal funds to submit annual reports on how they handle specific serious crimes, including rape, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, and sex trafficking. The reports must detail case declines, bail decisions, plea agreements, sentencing outcomes, and whether defendants had prior offenses or were on sex offender registries. Prosecutors failing to report face withheld federal funds (25-50% of allocated money), while offices declining over half of eligible cases may need corrective plans. The data will be published publicly to increase transparency about prosecutorial practices for these offenses.

HRES 933 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for victim service providers who assist survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It acknowledges these providers - such as shelters, nonprofits, and community organizations - help survivors navigate legal, medical, and emotional challenges, including safety planning and connecting to resources. The resolution highlights their critical but often underfunded role and calls for meaningful investment to sustain their lifesaving work. (Note: As a resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the need for support.)

This bill amends the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 to clarify and expand law enforcement support for identity theft cases. It defines "identity theft" as criminal acts involving unauthorized use of another person's identifying details (like Social Security numbers or bank info), and adds "identity theft" to existing federal grant programs for local police to investigate cybercrimes. These grants will now fund investigations into identity theft alongside other cybercrimes. The bill directly affects local law enforcement agencies receiving these grants and victims of identity theft by improving enforcement resources. (Note: The title "Protect Your PIN" is misleading; the bill focuses on identity theft definitions and funding, not PIN security.)