Bills · S 122
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 122Civil actions and liabilityLaw enforcement officers
Qualified Immunity Act of 2025
INTRO JAN 16· LAST ACTION JAN 16
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
10
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it would solidify a highly debated legal principle, qualified immunity, into federal law. Currently, qualified immunity is a doctrine established by court decisions, but this bill would make it a specific part of the statute (42 U.S.C. 1983) that allows people to sue for rights violations.
If this bill becomes law, it would provide increased legal protection for law enforcement officers against civil lawsuits, potentially making it more difficult for individuals to hold officers and their departments accountable for alleged misconduct in court. If it doesn't become law, the existing court-developed qualified immunity standards would continue to apply, subject to future judicial interpretations and potential legislative changes.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Codifies the defense of qualified immunity into federal law for actions brought under Section 1983 of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1983).
This makes a court-developed legal defense a specific part of federal statute, affecting all future relevant lawsuits.
PROVISION 02
Protects law enforcement officers from liability if the constitutional right was not 'clearly established' at the time of the alleged violation, or if the state of the law was not sufficiently clear for a reasonable officer to know their conduct was a violation.
This sets a specific legal bar for when officers can be sued, making it potentially harder to hold them individually accountable.
PROVISION 03
Protects law enforcement officers from liability if a court had previously issued a final decision holding that the specific conduct alleged was consistent with the Constitution and Federal laws.
This provides a strong defense based on prior legal precedent, further shielding officers from liability.
PROVISION 04
Shields law enforcement agencies and local governments from liability if their employed officer is found not liable under the bill's provisions and was acting within the scope of their employment.
This extends the protection against lawsuits to the institutions that employ officers, impacting broader institutional accountability.
PROVISION 05
Defines 'law enforcement agency' and 'law enforcement officer' for the purposes of this bill.
This clarifies precisely which entities and individuals are covered by the bill's protections.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 10
R· Indiana
YRS IN OFFICE
9
BILLS LED
99
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 10 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJAN 16
Introduced in Senate
JAN 16
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 122
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJan 16, 2025
Last actionJan 16, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 16, 2025
Senate BillS 122Civil actions and liabilityLaw enforcement officers
Qualified Immunity Act of 2025
INTRODUCED JAN 16, 2025· LAST ACTION JAN 16, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
3 min
COSPONSORS
10
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
