S 2196 — Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025

Summary

Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025This bill extends federal restrictions on the receipt, possession, shipment, and transportation of firearms and ammunition to new types of stalking and domestic violence offenders.Specifically, the bill extends federal firearms-related restrictions to individuals who are convicted of a misdemeanor crime of stalking. The term misdemeanor crime of stalking means a federal, state, tribal, or local offense involving harassment, intimidation, or surveillance that (1) causes emotional distress; or (2) places a person in reasonable fear of harm to themselves, an immediate family member, a current or former cohabitant, an intimate partner, or a pet.Additionally, the bill extends federal firearms-related restrictions to individuals who are subject to a domestic violence protection order that restrains them from harassing, stalking, or threatening a current or former dating partner (regardless of when the relationship occurred) or an individual similarly situated to a spouse. Currently, the restrictions only apply if the domestic violence protection order restrains the individual from harassing, stalking, or threatening a co-parent, a current or former spouse, or a current or former cohabitant.Finally, the bill extends federal firearms-related restrictions to individuals who commit a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against the child of a current or recent former dating partner. Currently, the restrictions only apply if the offense is committed against a current or recent former dating partner.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in Senate Current html June 26, 2025

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends the definition of 'intimate partner' to include individuals in a dating relationship and introduces changes related to misdemeanor crimes of stalking.

• 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(32)

  and an individual → an individual, who is or was in a dating relationship with the person, or any other individual similarly situated to a spouse, including an individual who is protected by the domestic or family violence laws of the State or Tribal jurisdiction in which the abuse occurred or the victim resides

  Expands the definition of 'intimate partner' to include dating relationships.

• 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(37)(A)

  The term `dating relationship' means a relationship between individuals who have or have had, or in the case of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence have or have recently had, a continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature. → The term `dating relationship' means a relationship between individuals who have or have had, or in the case of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence have or have recently had, a continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.

  Clarifies the definition of 'dating relationship'.

• 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(37)(C)

  dating relationship → continuing serious relationship

  Revises terms in the definition related to 'dating relationship' for consistency.

• 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(33)(A)(ii)

  victim, or by a person → victim, by a person

  Adjusts the phrasing regarding who can commit a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

• 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(33)(A)(ii)

  , or by a person who has a current or recent former dating relationship with the parent, guardian, or person similarly situated to a parent or guardian of the victim

  Includes individuals who have a dating relationship with the victim's guardian in the definition of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence.

• 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)

  (39)(A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the term `misdemeanor crime of stalking' means an offense that-- (i) is a misdemeanor under Federal, State, Tribal, or local law; and (ii) has as an element a course of harassment, intimidation, or surveillance that-- (I) places a person in reasonable fear of actual harm to the health or safety of-- (aa) that person; (bb) an immediate family member (as defined in section 115) of that person; (cc) an individual who shares or has shared a residence with that person, without regard to whether the individual is related to that person; (dd) an intimate partner of that person; or (ee) the pet, service animal, or emotional support animal (as those terms are defined in section 2266) of that person; or (II) causes, attempts to cause, or would reasonably be expected to cause emotional distress to a person described in item (aa), (bb), (cc), or (dd) of subclause (I).

  Establishes a new definition for 'misdemeanor crime of stalking'.

• 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)

  (10) has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of stalking;

  Prohibits individuals convicted of stalking misdemeanors from receiving firearms.

• 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)

  (10) has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of stalking,

  Adds misdemeanor crime of stalking to the list of prohibitors for firearm possession.

Action History

1. June 26, 2025

   Introduced in Senate

2. June 26, 2025

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

• Richard Blumenthal · Cosponsor
• Tim Kaine · Cosponsor
• Peter Welch · Cosponsor
• Richard J. Durbin · Cosponsor
• Bernard Sanders · Cosponsor
• Edward J. Markey · Cosponsor
• Mazie K. Hirono · Cosponsor
• Angela D. Alsobrooks · Cosponsor
• Andy Kim · Cosponsor
• Tina Smith · Cosponsor
• Jack Reed · Cosponsor
• Chris Van Hollen · Cosponsor
• Tammy Duckworth · Cosponsor
• Kirsten E. Gillibrand · Cosponsor
• Jeanne Shaheen · Cosponsor
• Alex Padilla · Cosponsor
• Jacky Rosen · Cosponsor
• Amy Klobuchar · Primary

Subjects