Thin Blue Line Act

Bill: 119-s-83
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2025-01-14
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Crime victims

Criminal procedure and sentencing

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Fires

First responders and emergency personnel

Health personnel

Law enforcement officers

Violent crime
Latest action: action_date: 2025-01-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-14
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Thin Blue Line Act</b></p> <p>This bill expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.</p>

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 83 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 14, 2025 Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mr. Kennedy , Mr. Hagerty , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Hoeven , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Budd , Mr. Johnson , and Mr. Lankford ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide enhanced penalties for convicted murderers who kill or target America’s public safety officers.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Thin Blue Line Act . 2. Aggravating Factors for Death Penalty Section 3592(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (16) the following: (17) Killing or targeting of law enforcement officers (A) The defendant killed or attempted to kill, in a circumstance described in subparagraph (B), a person who is authorized by law— (i) to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any criminal violation of law; (ii) to apprehend, arrest, or prosecute an individual for any criminal violation of law; or (iii) to be a firefighter or other first responder. (B) A circumstance referred to in subparagraph (A) is that the person was killed or targeted— (i) while he or she was engaged in the performance of his or her official duties; (ii) because of the performance of his or her official duties; or (iii) because of his or her status as a public official or employee. .