S. 234: Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act of 2025
A Senate bill (S.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | Senate bill (S.) |
| Originating chamber | Senate |
| Introduced | 2025-01-23 |
| Sponsor | Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA] |
| Policy area | Crime and Law Enforcement |
| Cosponsors | 1 |
| Latest action | 2025-01-23 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. |
| Last updated | 2025-07-21 |
Summary
Official summary (Introduced in Senate, 2025-01-23):
Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act of 2025
This bill requires certain state and local prosecutors to report data on criminal referrals and outcomes of cases involving murder or non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson, or any offense involving the illegal use or possession of a firearm.
The reporting requirement applies to state and local prosecutors in a jurisdiction that has 360,000 or more persons and receives funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program. The report must contain data on
- cases referred for prosecution,
- cases the prosecutor declined to prosecute or refer for diversion,
- cases for which the prosecutor declined to reach a plea agreement,
- cases that resulted in a plea agreement or referral for diversion, and
- offenses the prosecutor did not prosecute due to an internal policy.
If a state or local prosecutor complies with these requirements, the bill requires (1) the Department of Justice to give priority in disbursing Byrne JAG program funds to the local government served by the prosecutor, and (2) the local government to ensure that the prosecutor receives a portion of the funds.
Additionally, the bill prohibits states and local governments from receiving funds under the Byrne JAG program if they have in effect a policy that prohibits the use of cash bail for a defendant in a case involving the illegal use or illegal possession of a firearm.
Cosponsors (1)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Ted Cruz | R TX (original cosponsor) 2025-01-23 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for S. 234 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
Frequently asked questions
What is S. 234?
S. 234 is a Senate bill (S.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the Senate. Official title: Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act of 2025.
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for S. 234 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).