H.R. 59: Mens Rea Reform Act of 2025
A House bill (H.R.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | House bill (H.R.) |
| Originating chamber | House |
| Introduced | 2025-01-03 |
| Sponsor | Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5] |
| Policy area | Crime and Law Enforcement |
| Cosponsors | 2 |
| Latest action | 2025-06-10 — Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 13. |
| Last updated | 2026-05-27 |
Summary
Official summary (Introduced in House, 2025-01-03):
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.
Cosponsors (2)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Andrew Ogles | R TN (original cosponsor) 2025-01-03 |
| Chip Roy | R TX 2025-01-09 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for H.R. 59 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
View H.R. 59 on congress.gov →
Frequently asked questions
What is H.R. 59?
H.R. 59 is a House bill (H.R.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the House. Official title: Mens Rea Reform Act of 2025.
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for H.R. 59 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).