H.R. 59 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on the Judiciary, Jan 3, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryDefines required mental state for federal crimes
Ever wondered what it means when someone is charged with breaking a federal law—does the government have to prove they meant to do it, or just that they did it. This bill sets a default answer for federal crimes that don't already specify what state of mind prosecutors need to prove. Under this bill, for those crimes, the government would generally have to show that a defendant acted knowingly when it comes to each part of the offense.
How it affects you
If you're ever involved in a federal criminal case or know someone who is, this could matter. The bill makes it clearer and potentially harder for prosecutors to win convictions, since they'd have to prove the defendant knew what they were doing, not just that it happened. People charged with federal offenses—whether in business, healthcare, or other regulated areas—could be affected by this higher bar for conviction.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jan 3, 2025)
Mens Rea Reform Act of 2025
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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 59
A BILL
Mens Rea Reform Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-5) · Introduced Jan 3, 2025 · Crime and Law Enforcement · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jun 10, 2025: “Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 13.”