S. 167 – Protect and Serve Act of 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 3:26 AM UTC

The Protect and Serve Act of 2025 adds a new federal crime that targets assaults on law‑enforcement officers, especially when the conduct involves interstate commerce, travel across state lines, or a federal officer. It sets up steep prison terms—up to 10 years for serious injury and life imprisonment for death, kidnapping, or attempted killing. The bill also requires the Attorney General’s written certification before the federal government can prosecute, ensuring federal action only when state jurisdiction is lacking or the case serves a broader public interest.

Key Provisions

Creates a new federal offense (Section 120) that makes it a crime to knowingly assault a law‑enforcement officer and cause serious bodily injury, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine.
If the assault results in death, or includes kidnapping or an attempt to kill, the penalty can be life imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The offense applies when the assault occurs across state lines or a national border, uses any interstate or foreign‑commerce channel, involves a weapon that traveled in interstate commerce, interferes with commercial activity, or the victim is a federal law‑enforcement officer.
Federal prosecution is allowed only after a written certification from the Attorney General (or designee) that the state lacks jurisdiction, the state has asked the federal government to take over, the state outcome left a federal interest unprotected, or the case is in the public interest and needed for substantial justice.
Defines “law‑enforcement officer” broadly as any employee of a governmental agency authorized to prevent, detect, investigate, detain, or incarcerate persons for criminal violations.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 21, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 21, 2025

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 21, 2025

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in SenateIssued January 21, 2025

II

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 167

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 21, 2025

Mr. Tillis introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to punish criminal offenses targeting law enforcement officers, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protect and Serve Act of 2025.

2.

Crimes targeting law enforcement officers

(a)

In general

Chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

120.

Crimes targeting law enforcement officers

(a)

In general

Whoever, in any circumstance described in subsection (b), knowingly assaults a law enforcement officer causing serious bodily injury, or attempts to do so—

(1)

shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and

(2)

shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if—

(A)

death results from the offense; or

(B)

the offense includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, or an attempt to kill.

(b)

Circumstances described

For purposes of subsection (a), the circumstances described in this subsection are that—

(1)

the conduct described in subsection (a) occurs during the course of, or as the result of, the travel of the defendant or the victim—

(A)

across a State line or national border; or

(B)

using a channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce;

(2)

the defendant uses a channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce in connection with the conduct described in subsection (a);

(3)

in connection with the conduct described in subsection (a), the defendant employs a firearm, dangerous weapon, explosive or incendiary device, or other weapon that has traveled in interstate or foreign commerce;

(4)

the conduct described in subsection (a)—

(A)

interferes with commercial or other economic activity in which the victim is engaged at the time of the conduct; or

(B)

otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce; or

(5)

the victim is a Federal law enforcement officer.

(c)

Certification requirement

(1)

In general

No prosecution of any offense described in this section may be undertaken by the United States, except under the certification in writing of the Attorney General, or a designee, that—

(A)

the State does not have jurisdiction;

(B)

the State has requested that the Federal Government assume jurisdiction;

(C)

the verdict or sentence obtained pursuant to State charges left demonstratively unvindicated the Federal interest in protecting the public safety; or

(D)

a prosecution by the United States is in the public interest and necessary to secure substantial justice.

(2)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of Federal officers, or a Federal grand jury, to investigate possible violations of this section.

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Law enforcement officer

The term law enforcement officer means an employee of a governmental or public agency who is authorized by law—

(A)

to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, or the investigation of any criminal violation of law; or

(B)

to engage in or supervise the detention or the incarceration of any person for any criminal violation of law.

(2)

State

The term State means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

.

(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

120. Crimes targeting law enforcement officers.

.