H.R. 59 · 119th Congress
Mens Rea Reform Act of 2025
- Stage
- Reported from committee
- Sponsor
- Andy Biggs
- Introduced
- 2025-01-03
- Latest action
- 2025-06-10 · Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Summary
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.