H.R. 50House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Terry Technical Correction Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 1:56 AM UTC

The Terry Technical Correction Act changes the First Step Act of 2018 so that people convicted of certain drug‑related crimes, such as specific cocaine‑base violations and other offenses listed in the Controlled Substances statutes, can qualify for sentence‑reduction benefits. It also refines how denied motions for reduced sentences are treated when the underlying offense is later found not to be covered. The changes affect federal defendants seeking early release or sentence reductions under the First Step Act.

Key Provisions

Amends the First Step Act’s definition of a “covered offense” to add a list of specific drug‑related violations (including various sections of the Controlled Substances Act, the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act, and related statutes) and any attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation involving those offenses, making defendants charged with them eligible for reduced sentences under the Act.
Clarifies that if a motion for sentence reduction is denied after a court finds one of the newly added violations is not a covered offense, that denial does not count as a “denial” for purposes of a later review of the motion.

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

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 50

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 9, 2023

Ms. Jackson Lee introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend the First Step Act of 2018 to permit defendants convicted of certain offenses to be eligible for reduced sentences, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Terry Technical Correction Act.

Application of Fair Sentencing Act of 2010

Section 404 of the First Step Act of 2018 (21 U.S.C. 841 note) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

by striking covered offense means and inserting the following:

covered offense—

(1)

means

;

(B)

by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

includes a violation, involving cocaine base, of—

(A)

section 3113 of title 5, United States Code;

(B)

section 401(b)(1)(C) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(C));

(C)

section 404(a) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 844(a));

(D)

section 406 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 846);

(E)

section 408 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 848);

(F)

subsection (b) or (c) of section 409 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 849);

(G)

subsection (a) or (b) of section 418 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 859);

(H)

subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 419 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 860);

(I)

section 420 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 861);

(J)

section 1010(b)(3) of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 960(b)(3));

(K)

section 1010A of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 960a);

(L)

section 90103 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12522);

(M)

section 70503 or 70506 of title 46, United States Code; or

(N)

any attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit an offense described in subparagraphs (A) through (M).

; and

(2)

in subsection (c), by inserting A motion made under this section that was denied after a court determination that a violation described in subsection (a)(2) was not a covered offense shall not be considered a denial after a complete review of the motion on the merits within the meaning of this section. after the period at the end of the second sentence.