Senate Passes Justice for Murder Victims Act to End Time Limits on Homicide Charges
The Justice for Murder Victims Act has passed the Senate and is now waiting for action in the House of Representatives. It is currently held at the desk and is considered active as it moves through the legislative process. There are no specific upcoming votes scheduled for this bill at this time.
This bill has already passed the Senate and addresses a non-partisan issue of updating criminal law to match modern medical capabilities.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
People who commit violent acts that later result in death, even years after the attack, can now face federal homicide charges. Previously, the year-and-a-day rule meant that if a victim survived more than a year and a day, prosecutors could not bring a murder charge. This permanently expands criminal exposure for anyone whose violent act eventually causes a death, though the number of federal cases affected in any given year is likely small.
“A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between-- ``(1) the act or omission that caused the death of the victim; and ``(2) the death of the victim.”
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
The House has received the Senate-passed bill and will decide whether to take it up.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1675-1676; text: CR S1676)
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Georgia Senator John Ossoff will seek to abolish the 'year and a day' policy across the country this legislative session. He recently introduced The Justice for Murder Victims Act along with Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
Wisconsin Rep. Tom Tiffany has introduced a bill that will seek to change how murder charges can be brought against a suspect if a victim dies after an alleged attack or assault takes place. The bill would repeal the 'year-and-a-day' rule.
Congressman Tom Tiffany and Congresswoman Lucy McBath announced the reintroduction of the Justice for Murder Victims Act. This bipartisan bill would strike down the 'year-and-a-day' rule, a 13th century legal precedent.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Justice for Murder Victims Act
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.