H.R. 130 – Thin Blue Line Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 1:48 AM UTC

The Thin Blue Line Act would add a new aggravating factor to the federal death‑penalty statute. It makes the killing or targeting of a law‑enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder an additional reason a judge can impose the death penalty. The change applies to federal cases where a defendant kills or attempts to kill such a person while they are performing official duties, because of those duties, or because of their status as a public employee.

Key Provisions

Amends 18 U.S.C. § 3592(c) to insert a new paragraph (17) that lists the killing or targeting of a law‑enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder as an aggravating factor for the death penalty.
Specifies that the aggravating factor applies when the victim was killed or targeted while performing official duties, because of those duties, or because of their status as a public official or employee.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 9, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 9, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 9, 2023

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 9, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 130

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 9, 2023

Mr. Buchanan (for himself, Mr. Waltz, Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Norman, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Graves of Louisiana, and Mr. Posey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide additional aggravating factors for the imposition of the death penalty based on the status of the victim.

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 officer

(A)

The defendant killed or attempted to kill, in the circumstance described in subparagraph (B), a person who is authorized by law—

(i)

to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, investigation, or prosecution, 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)

The 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.

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