Kamisha’s Law
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7364
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-04: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-20T16:53:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill, titled "Kamisha's Law," aims to remove time restrictions (known as statutes of limitations) for prosecuting certain federal homicide offenses that are not punishable by the death penalty (non-capital offenses). The goal is to allow federal authorities to bring charges for these serious crimes at any time, regardless of how much time has passed since the offense.
Key Provisions
- New Section Added: The bill amends Chapter 213 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code by inserting a new Section 3302, titled "Non-capital homicide offenses."
- Offenses Covered: Indictments or informations (formal charges) can be filed without any time limit for the following federal crimes:
- Second-degree murder under Section 1111 (general federal murder statute).
- Voluntary manslaughter under Section 1112 (intentional killing without malice).
- Attempted manslaughter under Section 1113.
- Second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, or attempted manslaughter involving:
- Federal public officials or employees (Section 1114).
- Foreign officials, official guests, or internationally protected persons (Section 1116).
- Murder committed abroad by U.S. nationals (Section 1119).
- Peonage, slavery, or trafficking in persons resulting in death (Section 1120, limited to second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter).
- Violations related to human trafficking or forced labor resulting in death (Section 1121, limited to second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter).
- Second-degree murder related to terrorism transiting borders (Section 1118).
- Clerical Update: Adds an entry for the new Section 3302 to the table of contents for Chapter 213.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Elimination of Time Limits: Under current federal law (e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 3282), most non-capital felonies have a five-year statute of limitations. This bill overrides that for the specified homicide offenses, allowing prosecutions indefinitely.
- Scope Limitation: The change applies only to non-capital (non-death penalty) versions of these crimes; capital offenses already have no statute of limitations under existing law (18 U.S.C. § 3281).
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Justice and federal law enforcement (e.g., FBI) could pursue older cases, potentially increasing investigative workloads but improving accountability for serious crimes against officials or in international contexts.
- On Citizens: Victims' families and survivors may gain extended opportunities for justice in unresolved homicide cases. However, individuals accused long after an incident could face challenges in mounting a defense due to faded evidence or memories.
- On International Relations: By extending prosecution for crimes against foreign officials or abroad (e.g., Sections 1116, 1119), it could strengthen U.S. commitments to international protections but might complicate diplomacy if old cases involve foreign nationals.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Prosecutors and Law Enforcement: Gain flexibility to charge without time pressure.
- Victims and Their Families: Benefit from prolonged pursuit of justice for homicides involving public officials, international figures, or trafficking victims.
- Accused Individuals: Face indefinite liability, which could affect personal security and legal planning.
- Government Officials and International Entities: Enhanced protections for federal and foreign personnel, potentially influencing security protocols.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Removes a key procedural barrier (statute of limitations), which is designed to ensure timely prosecutions and protect against stale claims. This could lead to more convictions but risks challenges over evidence reliability in decades-old cases.
- Constitutional Implications: May raise due process concerns under the Fifth Amendment if prosecutions rely on weak or unavailable evidence, though statutes of limitations are not constitutionally required for serious crimes. No direct impact on other rights like speedy trial (Sixth Amendment), as those apply post-charging.
- Political Implications: Named after "Kamisha" (likely referencing a specific case), it signals a push for tougher homicide accountability, potentially appealing to lawmakers focused on public safety and anti-trafficking efforts. As an introduced bill (H.R. 7364, 119th Congress), it requires committee approval and full congressional passage to become law.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-04: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-02-04: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Kamisha’s Law — issued 2026-02-04 — PDF (3 pages)