STOP Violence Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 2649

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-07-01T08:08:35Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Strengthen and Tackle Opportunities to Prevent Violence Act of 2025 (also known as the STOP Violence Act of 2025) aims to enhance protections against mass violence by providing federal funding for preparation and security measures in public gathering places. It amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, a law that funds various crime prevention and justice programs, to allocate additional grants specifically for this purpose.

Key Provisions

• Allocates $20,000,000 in grants from the U.S. Attorney General to states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations that assist crime victims.
• Grants support compensation, training, and technical assistance for public assembly facilities (e.g., places like schools, churches, malls, stadiums, or event venues where people gather for education, worship, shopping, entertainment, or similar activities).
• Defines key terms:
• Mass violence: Includes active shooter incidents and targeted violence.
• Active shooter: An individual actively trying to kill people with a firearm in a crowded, enclosed area without authorization.
• Targeted violence: An attack where the perpetrator, known or identifiable to local law enforcement, selects a specific person, group, or institution as the target beforehand, even if the attack doesn't succeed.
• Public assembly facility: Any fixed or temporary location where crowds gather closely for activities like meetings, recreation, or sports.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Modifies Section 506(a) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (34 U.S.C. 10157) by adding a new funding category (paragraph 3) for mass violence protection grants, expanding beyond the law's prior focus on general law enforcement and victim services.
• Introduces a new subsection (c) with the above definitions, which were not previously specified in this section, providing clarity for grant eligibility and implementation.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: The Department of Justice (via the Attorney General) will administer the new grants, potentially increasing administrative workload but also expanding federal support for local security efforts.
• On citizens: Improves safety in public spaces by funding preventive measures, which could reduce risks of mass violence incidents and provide better support for victims.
• On international relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic crime prevention.
• Overall, it could lead to more resilient public venues, though effectiveness depends on how funds are distributed and used.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• States and local governments: Eligible to receive grants for enhancing security in community facilities.
• Nonprofit organizations: Those serving crime victims can apply for funds to provide training and assistance.
• Public assembly facilities: Operators of schools, places of worship, shopping centers, event venues, and similar sites benefit from funded protections.
• Citizens and visitors: People attending these facilities gain indirect protection from mass violence threats.
• Law enforcement and victims' services: Involved in identifying threats and supporting recovery efforts.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens federal involvement in crime prevention without creating new mandates; relies on voluntary grant applications, avoiding coercion on recipients. Definitions provide clear guidelines to prevent misuse of funds.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I to fund public safety, with no apparent conflicts to free speech, privacy, or other rights, as it targets preparation rather than surveillance or restrictions.
• Political: Represents a bipartisan push (introduced by representatives from both parties) to address rising concerns over mass shootings and targeted attacks, potentially influencing future funding debates on gun violence and public safety without altering gun laws directly.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

Cosponsors (5)

Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-04-03: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-03: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Strengthen and Tackle Opportunities to Prevent Violence Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-03 — PDF (3 pages)