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S. 960Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)Passed Senate

Justice for Murder Victims Act

Sponsored by Chuck GrassleySen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Introduced March 11, 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 12, 2026 at 3:25 PM UTC

The Justice for Murder Victims Act would let the federal government bring homicide charges no matter how long after the act or omission the victim actually dies. It keeps existing federal statutes of limitation in place, but it restricts the death penalty to cases where the victim dies within about a year of the act.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new Section 1123 to Title 18, allowing a federal prosecution for any homicide regardless of the time between the act/omission and the victim’s death.
  • Specifies that this provision does not override the existing federal statute of limitations (28 U.S.C. 3282).
  • Limits the death penalty for federal homicide cases to situations where the death occurs within 1 year and 1 day of the act or omission; the government must prove this timing beyond a reasonable doubt.
  • Amends the penalty language for first‑degree murder so that if the death occurs after more than 1 year and 1 day, the death penalty is not available and the offender faces imprisonment for any term or life.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions
HouseFloor Latest Action

Held at the desk.

March 14, 2025 • 9:03 AM

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 11, 2025

SenateFloor

Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S1675-1676; text: CR S1676)

March 11, 2025

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

March 12, 2025

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

March 14, 2025 • 9:03 AM

HouseFloor

Held at the desk.

March 14, 2025 • 9:03 AM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 960 on the floor

1 Republican
John Thune
Sen. John ThuneR-SD · Mar 11, 2025

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 960, introduced earlier today. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered…

Record

Bill Text

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Considered and Passed SenateIssued March 11, 2025

II

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 960

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 11 (legislative day, March 10), 2025

Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Ossoff, and Mr. Lee) introduced the following bill; which was read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed

A BILL

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.