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S. 3859Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)Passed Senate

Justice for Murder Victims Act

Sponsored by Chuck GrassleySen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Introduced February 29, 2024

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 2:58 PM UTC

The Justice for Murder Victims Act removes any time limit for bringing federal homicide charges, allowing prosecutions regardless of how long it takes for a victim to die after the act or omission. It keeps the existing five‑year statute of limitations for other crimes and limits the death penalty to cases where the victim dies within one year and one day of the act. The bill changes the penalty language for first‑degree murder to permit life imprisonment or a term of years when the death occurs after that period. It applies to homicides that occur after the law is enacted.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new federal homicide provision (Sec. 1123) that permits prosecution without regard to the time between the act or omission and the victim’s death.
  • Specifies that this new rule does not override the existing five‑year statute of limitations for other offenses under 18 U.S.C. § 3282(a).
  • Limits the death penalty for federal homicide to cases where the death occurs within one year and one day of the act or omission.
  • Amends the first‑degree murder penalty language to allow imprisonment for any term of years or life when the victim’s death occurs after one year and one day.
  • Applies the new rules only to acts or omissions that happen after the law’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions
HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

March 1, 2024 • 10:10 AM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

February 29, 2024

SenateFloor

Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1089-1090; text: CR S1089-1090)

February 29, 2024

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

March 1, 2024 • 10:03 AM

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

March 1, 2024

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

March 1, 2024 • 10:10 AM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 3859 on the floor

1 Democrat
Charles E. Schumer
Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Feb 29, 2024

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 3859, introduced earlier today by Senators Grassley and Ossoff. I further ask that the bill be…

Record

Bill Text

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Engrossed in SenateIssued February 29, 2024

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3859

AN ACT

To ensure that homicides can be prosecuted under Federal law without regard to the time elapsed between the act or omission that caused the death of the victim and the death itself.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Justice for Murder Victims Act.

2.

Homicide offenses

(a)

In general

Chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

1123.

No maximum time period between act or omission and death of victim

(a)

In general

A prosecution may be instituted for any homicide offense under this title without regard to the time that elapsed between—

(1)

the act or omission that caused the death of the victim; and

(2)

the death of the victim.

(b)

Relation to statute of limitations

Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to supersede the limitations period under section 3282(a), to the extent applicable.

(c)

Maximum time period applicable if death penalty imposed

A sentence of death may not be imposed for a homicide offense under this title unless the Government proves beyond a reasonable doubt that not more than 1 year and 1 day elapsed between—

(1)

the act or omission that caused the death of the victim; and

(2)

the death of the victim.

.

(b)

Table of contents

The table of sections for chapter 51 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

1123. No maximum time period between act or omission and death of victim.

.

(c)

Applicability

Section 1123(a) of title 18, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to an act or omission described in that section that occurs after the date of enactment of this Act.

(d)

Maximum penalty for first-degree murder based on time period between act or omission and death of victim

Section 1111(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after imprisonment for life the following: , unless the death of the victim occurred more than 1 year and 1 day after the act or omission that caused the death of the victim, in which case the punishment shall be imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

Passed the Senate February 29, 2024.

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