DHS Special Events Program and Support Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1508

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-09: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Last Updated

2026-07-09T13:27:22Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "DHS Special Events Program and Support Act" (H.R. 1508) aims to strengthen security for certain public events by authorizing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a program that evaluates risks from terrorism or other threats. This helps provide better protection and awareness without designating events as high-level "National Special Security Events" (NSSEs), which are rare, major events like political conventions where the Secret Service leads security.

Key Provisions

• Authorization of the Special Events Program: Establishes a new program within DHS to assess threats, vulnerabilities (weak points), and potential consequences of terrorism or other security risks at pre-planned special events that are not NSSEs.
• Submission and Assessment Process:
• Federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial officials can voluntarily request a "special event rating" from DHS, which could lead to federal security support.
• Uses a risk-based method to evaluate requests, factoring in expected attendance by U.S. officials or foreign dignitaries, event size and location, known threats, and other relevant security information.
• Includes options for fast-track reviews and reassessments of ratings if conditions change.
• Federal Support: DHS may offer security and situational awareness assistance (e.g., intelligence sharing or coordination) to officials upon request for rated events.
• Reporting and Oversight:
• DHS must submit annual reports to Congress detailing program usage, including the number of events rated, federal support provided, and reassessment requests (with details like event name, location, and rating changes).
• Every five years, DHS will conduct and report a full program assessment.
• Research on Mass Gatherings: Within one year of enactment, DHS must research technologies and methods to improve security at large crowds (mass gatherings), while respecting constitutional rights, privacy, and civil liberties.
• Technical Update: Adds the new program to the Homeland Security Act's table of contents.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 by adding a new section (890E) specifically for non-NSSE special events, filling a gap in current law that focuses more on NSSEs or ad-hoc support.
• Introduces standardized, voluntary processes for rating requests and federal coordination, which were not previously formalized for lower-profile events.
• Mandates regular congressional reporting and periodic evaluations, increasing transparency and accountability compared to existing DHS event security practices.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Enhances coordination among DHS, federal partners, and state/local/Tribal authorities, potentially streamlining security planning but requiring DHS to allocate resources for assessments and support, which could strain budgets if request volumes grow.
• On Citizens: Improves safety at public events (e.g., festivals, sports games, or conferences) by enabling proactive threat assessments and federal aid, reducing risks from terrorism or disruptions for attendees.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though events involving foreign dignitaries could benefit from better U.S. security coordination, indirectly supporting diplomatic protection.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• DHS and Federal Agencies: Primary implementers, responsible for running the program, providing support, and conducting research.
• State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Governments: Can request ratings and receive assistance, easing their security burdens for events.
• Event Organizers and Officials: Benefit from standardized risk evaluations to plan safer gatherings.
• Citizens and Attendees: Indirectly protected through enhanced event security.
• Congress: Gains oversight through required reports and assessments to monitor program effectiveness.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Builds on existing homeland security frameworks by defining "homeland security information" (broadly, data on potential threats) and ensuring processes are voluntary, reducing legal challenges from mandates.
• Constitutional: Explicitly requires research and support to align with privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections (e.g., avoiding unwarranted surveillance under the Fourth Amendment), promoting balanced security measures.
• Political: Introduced with bipartisan support (Democrats and Republicans), it reflects a consensus on bolstering domestic security without expanding NSSE designations, which can be politically sensitive due to high costs and federal involvement. No major controversies noted in the bill text, focusing on practical enhancements to event safety.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9], Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-09: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
• 2025-04-09: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2025-03-25: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
• 2025-03-25: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2025-02-21: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-21: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-21: Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
• 2025-02-21: Introduced in House
• 2025-02-21: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• DHS Special Events Program and Support Act — issued 2025-02-21 — PDF (5 pages)