No Bounties on Badges Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3453
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-04T19:03:10Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "No Bounties on Badges Act" aims to protect U.S. law enforcement officers by authorizing financial rewards for information that helps identify and stop individuals who offer money or other payments (known as bounties) to harm or kill these officers. It expands existing federal programs to encourage tips on such threats.
Key Provisions
- Rewards Program Expansion: Amends Chapter 204 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code (which deals with rewards for information on certain crimes) to include acts of offering bounties against U.S. law enforcement officers.
- Eligibility for Rewards: The Attorney General (head of the Department of Justice) may provide rewards to anyone who supplies information leading to:
- The arrest or conviction (in any country) of individuals committing, conspiring to commit, or attempting such bounty offers.
- The prevention or disruption of these acts.
- Administrative Updates:
- Updates the chapter heading to "Rewards for information concerning terrorist acts, espionage, or offering of bounties."
- Makes a clerical change to the table of contents in the U.S. Code to reflect this addition.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, Chapter 204 (Section 3071) authorized rewards only for information on terrorist acts and espionage. This bill adds a new subsection (c) specifically for bounty offers targeting law enforcement, broadening the scope without altering the core mechanics of the rewards system.
- The changes apply internationally, allowing rewards for arrests or convictions abroad, which extends U.S. law enforcement incentives beyond domestic borders.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Strengthens the Department of Justice's ability to gather intelligence and prosecute threats against law enforcement, potentially reducing risks to officers through proactive prevention.
- On Citizens: Encourages public participation by offering financial incentives for tips, which could increase reporting of threats but may also lead to more claims for rewards that need verification.
- On International Relations: By enabling rewards for actions in other countries, it could foster cooperation with foreign governments on cases involving U.S. personnel, though it might raise questions about U.S. jurisdiction overseas.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Law Enforcement Officers: Primary beneficiaries, as the law directly targets threats against them, enhancing their safety.
- Department of Justice and Attorney General: Responsible for administering rewards, investigating tips, and managing international aspects.
- Informants and the Public: Individuals who provide information could receive rewards, incentivizing community involvement.
- Perpetrators: Those offering or involved in bounties face heightened risk of detection and prosecution.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on existing reward statutes without creating new crimes, focusing instead on enforcement tools. The international scope aligns with federal authority over U.S. officials but could involve treaties or extradition processes for foreign arrests.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it supports free speech by rewarding information-sharing and aligns with Congress's power to regulate federal crimes and protect government functions.
- Political: Signals strong bipartisan support for law enforcement protection (introduced by senators from both parties), potentially influencing public discourse on officer safety amid rising concerns over targeted violence.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-12-11: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- No Bounties on Badges Act — issued 2025-12-11 — PDF (2 pages)