Anna’s Law of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 3121

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-06-04T08:08:45Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill, titled "Anna's Law of 2025," aims to improve how law enforcement officers and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) respond to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking by expanding access to trauma-informed training. Trauma-informed training means approaches that recognize the effects of trauma (such as emotional and psychological harm from violence) and help avoid re-traumatizing survivors during interactions with officials.

Key Provisions

• Grant Program: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) can award one-year grants to eligible organizations to create or expand training programs. Eligible organizations include state, Tribal, or local law enforcement agencies and state or local agencies that oversee EMT services.
• Training Requirements: Funded training must be evidence-based (supported by research), victim-centered (prioritizing survivors' needs), and cover topics like:
• How trauma affects the brain and behavior.
• Ways interactions with police or EMTs might cause further harm (retraumatization) to survivors.
• Strategies for communicating effectively and supporting survivors without worsening their trauma.
• Minimum Training Hours: Grant recipients must ensure:
• At least 8 hours of training for new recruits in law enforcement, fire, or EMT programs.
• At least 4 hours annually for all other personnel.
• Trainer Resources and Diversity: HHS must maintain an online, searchable list of qualified trainers, including their location and background. Training should use diverse trainers in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, and professional experience.
• Reporting and Evaluation: HHS must submit annual reports to Congress, including:
• Number of grant recipients.
• Effectiveness of the training in improving responses to cases.
• Data on prosecutions and outcomes of related cases.
• Feedback from survivors about their experiences with law enforcement and EMTs.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill adds a new section (Section 553) to Part D of Title V of the Public Health Service Act (a federal law focused on mental health and substance abuse services). This introduces a dedicated grant program for trauma-informed training specifically tailored to sexual assault and related violence cases, which was not previously outlined in this part of the law. It builds on existing public health frameworks but creates new funding and standards for training law enforcement and EMTs.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Law enforcement and EMT agencies may see increased costs for training, offset by federal grants, leading to standardized, nationwide improvements in handling sensitive cases. HHS will need resources to manage grants, trainer lists, and reporting.
• On Citizens: Survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking could experience less harmful interactions with officials, potentially leading to better mental health support, higher reporting rates, and improved case outcomes. This may encourage more victims to seek help without fear of further trauma.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic public health and law enforcement practices.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Law Enforcement and EMT Personnel: Required to undergo mandatory training, affecting their daily practices and professional development.
• Survivors and Victims: Primary beneficiaries through more supportive and less retraumatizing responses from officials.
• State, Tribal, and Local Agencies: Eligible for grants but must meet training and diversity requirements to qualify.
• Federal Government (HHS and Congress): HHS administers the program; Congress oversees it via reports.
• Trainers and Advocacy Groups: Opportunities for providing services, with emphasis on diverse representation.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: The bill promotes victim-centered policies that could strengthen evidence collection and prosecutions in violence cases by reducing barriers caused by trauma, potentially leading to more successful legal outcomes under existing criminal laws.
• Constitutional Implications: It aligns with equal protection principles (part of the 14th Amendment) by addressing systemic challenges faced by vulnerable groups, ensuring fairer access to justice without infringing on rights of accused individuals.
• Political Implications: As a public health-focused measure, it emphasizes prevention of trauma's long-term effects, which could foster broader support for violence prevention initiatives, though implementation depends on congressional funding and agency adoption.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

Cosponsors (12)

Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-30: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Anna’s Law of 2025 — issued 2025-04-30 — PDF (6 pages)