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HR 59In committeeCrime & Policinghouse
Mens Rea Reform Act of 2025
Introduced Jan 3, 2025 by Rep. Andy Biggs
IntroducedCommitteeFloorCongressLaw
It's waiting on a committee vote to reach the full chamber. Most bills never leave this stage.
Latest action · Jun 10, 2025
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 13.
What it does
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.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service.
Roll-call votes
No floor votes yet — it hasn't reached the floor of either chamber.