Bill · H.R. 503· House(119-HR-503)
Qualified Immunity Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 1/16/2025
- Last activity
- 1/16/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Virginia Foxx
- Cosponsors
- - 24 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the ``Qualified Immunity Act of 2025'', seeks to amend the Revised Statutes to codify the defense of qualified immunity. It specifically addresses actions brought under section 1979 regarding law enforcement officers. The bill establishes criteria for when an individual law enforcement officer cannot be found liable for their actions. It also provides protections for law enforcement agencies or local government units under certain conditions. The provisions regarding law enforcement officers and agencies would take effect 180 days after the Act is enacted.
Yes
No question was scored yes.
The opposite· 3 of 7
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?-4
The bill creates higher legal hurdles for holding law enforcement officers liable, which may impact the pursuit of civil rights accountability.
Would Black Americans be better off under this?-3
The bill may limit legal accountability for law enforcement actions that disproportionately affect minority communities.
Does this change how police departments operate?-3
By codifying qualified immunity, the bill limits the ability to hold officers legally accountable for constitutional violations.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection for Law Enforcement Officers: According to Section 2 and Section 3(a)(1), the bill provides "breathing room" for officers to make reasonable mistakes of fact and law. It establishes that an officer is not liable if the right or privilege was not "clearly established" or if a court had previously ruled that the conduct was consistent with the Constitution (Section s 3(a)(1)(A) and (B)).
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Protection for Law Enforcement Agencies: Under Section 3(a)(1)(2), a law enforcement agency or local government unit is shielded from liability if the individual officer is found not liable and was acting within the scope of their employment. This is intended to shield agencies from "harassment, distraction, and liability" when performing duties reasonably (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limitations on Accountability: While the bill seeks to balance interests, Section 2 notes that one of those interests is the "need to hold law enforcement officers accountable when they exercise power irresponsibly." The new codification in Section 3(a)(1) creates specific legal hurdles that must be met before an officer can be found liable, which may affect how such accountability is pursued.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For African Americans-3Good For Low Income Households-2Good For Urban Residents-2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity-4Improves Policing Reform-3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process-3Improves Government Transparency-2
- 10/24/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/1/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/23/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/15/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/19/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/14/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/13/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/5/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/7/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 2/11/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/22/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/21/2025
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- 1/16/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Mike BostRepublican · Illinois
Don BaconRepublican · Nebraska
Ken CalvertRepublican · California
Mike EzellRepublican · Mississippi
Brad FinstadRepublican · Minnesota
Paul GosarRepublican · Arizona
Tony GonzalesRepublican · Texas
Andrew GarbarinoRepublican · New York
Andy HarrisRepublican · Maryland
Clay HigginsRepublican · Louisiana
Ashley HinsonRepublican · Iowa
Brian JackRepublican · Georgia
Mike KellyRepublican · Pennsylvania
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Nicole MalliotakisRepublican · New York
Daniel MeuserRepublican · Pennsylvania
Troy NehlsRepublican · Texas
Jay ObernolteRepublican · California
Austin ScottRepublican · Georgia
Jefferson ShreveRepublican · Indiana
Claudia TenneyRepublican · New York
Jefferson Van DrewRepublican · New Jersey
Beth Van DuyneRepublican · Texas
Derrick Van OrdenRepublican · Wisconsin