WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

S. 960 · 119th Congress

Justice for Murder Victims Act

Passed SenateDrafted by AI, awaiting reviewCrime and Law Enforcement
IntroducedMar 11, 2025
Passed SenateMar 11, 2025
Passed HouseNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Passed Senate. Latest step, Mar 14, 2025: Held at the desk. From Iowa: Chuck Grassley sponsors it. It would change 1 section of existing law.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

S. 960 would change 1 section of existing law. Read from the bill text as considered and passed by the Senate (Mar 11, 2025).

18 U.S.C. 1111 Murder

  • (b) Within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, added to · Sec. 2(d) · see the words
What the words would change: every change, in place (1)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 18 U.S.C. 1111(b)addedby S. 960 Sec. 2(d)

    The bill says: Section 1111(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after "imprisonment for life" the following: ", unless the death of the victim occurred more than 1 year and 1 day after the act or omission that caused the death of the victim, in which case the punishment shall be imprisonment for any term of years or for life".

    Bill text · Current law (18 U.S.C. 1111)

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

Bill text used: Engrossed in Senate, as passed by the Senate on March 11, 2025 · updated Oct 28, 2026

This breakdown was drafted by AI from the official documents and passed our automatic checks: every quoted word was found in its source, and every number comes from an official record. A person must review it before we mark it reviewed. Tap any small number to see the exact words a sentence rests on.

At a glance

Sourced
  • Federal murder charges could be brought no matter how long the victim lived after the attack.
    3A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(a)the act or omission that caused the death of the victim; and[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(a)(1)
  • A death sentence would still require that the victim died within 1 year and 1 day.
    3A sentence of death may not be imposed for a homicide offense under this title unless the Government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that not more than 1 year and 1 day elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(c)
  • If death came later, the top penalty for first-degree murder would be life in prison.
    3unless the death of the victim occurred more than 1 year and 1 day after the act or omission that caused the death of the victim, in which case the punishment shall be imprisonment for any term of years or for life[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(d)
  • It would only cover acts that happen after it becomes law.
    3shall apply with respect to an act or omission described in that section that occurs after the date of enactment of this Act[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(c)
  • Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa wrote it. The Senate passed it on March 11, 2025. The House has not acted on it.
    1Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA][1] Official bill status record (actions, votes, cosponsors) · Sponsor2025-03-11 | Senate | Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.[1] Official bill status record (actions, votes, cosponsors) · Actions, March 11, 20252025-03-14 09:03:30 | House floor actions | Held at the desk.[1] Official bill status record (actions, votes, cosponsors) · Actions, March 14, 2025

What it would mean for you

Sourced

If a loved one was badly hurt by a crime and died much later

The attacker could still face a federal homicide charge

  • There would be no time limit between the attack and the death.
    3A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(a)the act or omission that caused the death of the victim; and[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(a)(1)
  • It covers federal homicide crimes only.
    3A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(a)
  • It would not reach attacks that happened before it becomes law.
    3shall apply with respect to an act or omission described in that section that occurs after the date of enactment of this Act[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(c)

If you live in Iowa

Your senator wrote it

What this bill does not do

Sourced
  • It does not cancel the 5-year deadline to bring charges where that deadline applies.
    3,6Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to supersede the limitations period under section 3282(a), to the extent applicable.[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(b)no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any offense, not capital, unless the indictment is found or the information is instituted within five years next after such offense shall have been committed[6] 18 U.S.C. 3282, Offenses not capital (U.S. Code, 2024 edition) · (a)
  • It does not reach acts that happened before it becomes law.
    3shall apply with respect to an act or omission described in that section that occurs after the date of enactment of this Act[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(c)
  • It does not change state murder laws.
    3A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(a)

Current law vs. the bill

Sourced

Every place the bill changes existing law. On the left, the law as it stands today, quoted from the U.S. Code. On the right, the bill's words.

18 U.S.C. 1123New section

Current law

New: nothing here today.

The bill

A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between
3A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(a)
In plain words: A new section says the time between the act and the death does not bar a federal homicide charge.
3A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(a)
18 U.S.C. 1111(b)Adds words

Current law

Whoever is guilty of murder in the first degree shall be punished by death or by imprisonment for life;
5Whoever is guilty of murder in the first degree shall be punished by death or by imprisonment for life;[5] 18 U.S.C. 1111, Murder (U.S. Code, 2024 edition, before this bill) · (b)

First-degree murder carried death or life, with no rule about when the victim died.

The bill

unless the death of the victim occurred more than 1 year and 1 day after the act or omission that caused the death of the victim, in which case the punishment shall be imprisonment for any term of years or for life
3unless the death of the victim occurred more than 1 year and 1 day after the act or omission that caused the death of the victim, in which case the punishment shall be imprisonment for any term of years or for life[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(d)
In plain words: When death comes more than 1 year and 1 day after the act, the punishment becomes prison for any term or life.
3unless the death of the victim occurred more than 1 year and 1 day after the act or omission that caused the death of the victim, in which case the punishment shall be imprisonment for any term of years or for life[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(d)

What the bill decides, and what it leaves to others

Sourced

Written into the bill

These take effect exactly as written.

  • The 1 year and 1 day line for the death penalty is set in the bill.
    3A sentence of death may not be imposed for a homicide offense under this title unless the Government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that not more than 1 year and 1 day elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(c)
  • It applies only to acts after it becomes law.
    3shall apply with respect to an act or omission described in that section that occurs after the date of enactment of this Act[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(c)

Left to agencies or states

The real effect depends on rules someone else writes later.

  • Federal prosecutors would decide which cases to bring.
    3A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(a)
  • For a death sentence, prosecutors must prove the timing beyond a reasonable doubt, and courts decide.
    3A sentence of death may not be imposed for a homicide offense under this title unless the Government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that not more than 1 year and 1 day elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(c)

Section by section

Sourced
Read all 4 sections in plain words
Sec. 1 Short title
Names the bill the Justice for Murder Victims Act.
3This Act may be cited as the Justice for Murder Victims Act.[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 1
Sec. 2(a) No time limit between act and death
Adds a new section to federal criminal law: a federal homicide can be charged however long the victim survived.
3Chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a)A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(a)
 The usual deadline for charging non-capital crimes still applies where it covers.
3,6Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to supersede the limitations period under section 3282(a), to the extent applicable.[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(b)no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any offense, not capital, unless the indictment is found or the information is instituted within five years next after such offense shall have been committed[6] 18 U.S.C. 3282, Offenses not capital (U.S. Code, 2024 edition) · (a)
 A death sentence needs proof beyond a reasonable doubt that death came within 1 year and 1 day.
3A sentence of death may not be imposed for a homicide offense under this title unless the Government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that not more than 1 year and 1 day elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(c)
Sec. 2(c) Which cases
Covers only acts after the bill becomes law.
3shall apply with respect to an act or omission described in that section that occurs after the date of enactment of this Act[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(c)
Sec. 2(d) Penalty when death comes later
If the victim died more than 1 year and 1 day later, first-degree murder brings prison for any term up to life, not death.
3unless the death of the victim occurred more than 1 year and 1 day after the act or omission that caused the death of the victim, in which case the punishment shall be imprisonment for any term of years or for life[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(d)

What changed between versions

Sourced
1 step, from first draft to final text

From cps to the Senate-passed text

No changes to the wording.

Cost

Sourced
  • No cost estimate was published. The Senate passed the bill the day it was introduced, without a committee review.
    12025-03-11 | Senate | Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.[1] Official bill status record (actions, votes, cosponsors) · Actions, March 11, 2025

Analysis

Analysis

Every bill gets the same five questions. Arguments are attributed to the people who made them, and each side gets about the same space.

Path to law

Balance of power

Coalitions

Precedent

  • Federal law already punishes first-degree murder with death or life in prison.
    5Whoever is guilty of murder in the first degree shall be punished by death or by imprisonment for life;[5] 18 U.S.C. 1111, Murder (U.S. Code, 2024 edition, before this bill) · (b)
  • The bill keeps a time limit only for the death penalty: 1 year and 1 day.
    3A sentence of death may not be imposed for a homicide offense under this title unless the Government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that not more than 1 year and 1 day elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(c)

The strongest case on each side

For

  • The bill's stated aim: killings can be prosecuted federally however much time passed between the harm and the death.
    3To ensure that homicides can be prosecuted under Federal law without regard to the time elapsed between the act or omission that caused the death of the victim and the death itself.[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Title
    Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), sponsor, with Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Mike Lee (R-UT)

Against

  • No one argued against it. The bill itself bars a death sentence after 1 year and 1 day, and keeps any 5-year charging limit.
    3,4,6There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.[4] Congressional Record, Senate, March 11, 2025 (S1675-S1676) · S1676A sentence of death may not be imposed for a homicide offense under this title unless the Government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that not more than 1 year and 1 day elapsed between[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(c)Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to supersede the limitations period under section 3282(a), to the extent applicable.[3] Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Sec. 2(a) → inserted 1123(b)no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any offense, not capital, unless the indictment is found or the information is instituted within five years next after such offense shall have been committed[6] 18 U.S.C. 3282, Offenses not capital (U.S. Code, 2024 edition) · (a)
    No opponent on the record; limits written into the bill

Did this make sense?

Sourced

Three quick questions. Your answers are anonymous and tell us which breakdowns need clearer writing.

1. What would this bill remove for federal homicide cases?
2. When could a death sentence still be given?
3. Where does the bill stand?

How this was checked

Sourced
4 checks
  • Automatic: every quote matched its source; every number matched an official record.
  • Committee report: None: the bill skipped committee.
  • CBO estimate: None published.
  • Floor statements: None: the Senate passed it by unanimous consent with no speeches, so the case for rests on the bill's stated purpose.

Spot an error? See our corrections log and how to report one

Sources

Sourced
All 6 sources
  1. Official bill status record (actions, votes, cosponsors) · Official bill record · retrieved Oct 28, 2026
  2. Considered and Passed Senate (March 11, 2025) · Bill text · retrieved Oct 28, 2026
  3. Engrossed in Senate (March 11, 2025) · Bill text · retrieved Oct 28, 2026
  4. Congressional Record, Senate, March 11, 2025 (S1675-S1676) · Congressional Record · retrieved Oct 28, 2026
  5. 18 U.S.C. 1111, Murder (U.S. Code, 2024 edition, before this bill) · U.S. Code (current law) · retrieved Oct 28, 2026
  6. 18 U.S.C. 3282, Offenses not capital (U.S. Code, 2024 edition) · U.S. Code (current law) · retrieved Oct 28, 2026

Official summary

Sourced

Justice for Murder Victims Act

This bill allows a prosecution to be instituted for any federal homicide offense without regard to the time that elapsed between the act or omission that caused the death of the victim and the death of the victim.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Passed Senate, Mar 11, 2025).

What has happened

Sourced
  1. Mar 14, 2025Held at the desk.House floor actions
  2. Mar 14, 2025Received in the House.House floor actions
  3. Mar 12, 2025Message on Senate action sent to the House.Senate
  4. Mar 11, 2025Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1675-1676; text: CR S1676)Senate
  5. Mar 11, 2025Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
  6. Mar 11, 2025Introduced in SenateLibrary of Congress

Show key steps only

Cosponsors

  • Mike Lee R-UT
  • Jon Ossoff D-GA