Two NEW Crucial Federal Police Bills Introduced!

Take action now!

Both of these newly re-introduced congressional bills, if passed, would have a pronounced positive affect on policing.

Please take a moment to contact your U.S. representatives today, urging them to co-sponsor these bills.

New Key Federal Bills to Watch

The Qualified Immunity Act of 2025 (S.122 / H.R. 503)

The Qualified Immunity Doctrine has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court since its establishment in 1967. It provides law enforcement officers (and other government officials) with legal protections from frivolous lawsuits, provided they act within the boundaries of the law.

Any officer who commits a criminal act or violates the constitutional rights of others faces accountability under the full force of the law.

The Qualified Immunity Act of 2025 (S. 122 / H.R. 503) is a newly re-introduced federal bill that would codify existing qualified immunity protections for police officers into law. It was introduced on the U.S. Senate side by Sen. Jim Banks (IN) and in the House by Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC-5).

Qualified immunity allows officers to perform their jobs, as prescribed by law, without fear of retribution and financial ruin.

In recent years, elected officials have attempted to limit or eradicate these protections. Democrats introduced the Ending Qualified Immunity Act (S. 1196) in the 118th Congress; and several states, including Colorado and New Mexico, have already passed laws to this effect.

Given that officers who break the law are already held to legal account -and that the officials writing these bills and policies undoubtedly are already aware of this- it’s difficult not to see these as attempts at lawfare.

These actions have indeed contributed to lowered officer morale and the current staffing issues plaguing our nation.

When officers fear financial retribution for fulfilling their duties in concert with the law and their training, they may become hesitant to engage in proactive policing, or they may begin to second-guess themselves during high stakes situations. Removal of these protections also exposes police departments to frivolous lawsuits, which could ultimately end in their financial ruin.

The Qualified Immunity Act of 2025 removes these weights by codifying legal protections (once and for all!) that have already been established and maintained by the U.S. Supreme Court.

This afternoon, I spoke with Bert Eyler, vice president of the National Center for Police Defense. His organization has been integral in working with Sen. Banks and other members of Congress in getting this bill introduced. I look forward to working with his group moving forward.

The Protect and Serve Act (S. 167)

You heard me talk about the Protect and Serve Act quite a bit last year. It was high on my list of legislative priorities and supported by a large number of police organizations.

The bill creates a new crime for knowingly assaulting a police officer and causing bodily harm, and provides mandatory sentencing. Protections would be extended to state and local officers, provided the offense has a federal link.

The new version of the Protect and Serve Act was introduced in the Senate (S. 167) by Sen. Tom Tillis (NC). It has not yet been re-introduced on the House side.

The Need to Act Quickly on Federal Consent Decrees

In his new article for RealClear Policy, Jason Johnson, former deputy commissioner of police in Baltimore and president of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, explains how failure to act expeditiously now can have lasting negative impacts.

He writes,

“But if Trump officials don’t act fast and aggressively, career bureaucrats and Biden administration holdovers can still impose their radical anti-policing agenda for decades to come – through binding court settlements called “consent decrees.”

“While the new policy memos from Trump’s DOJ outline a freeze on new litigation and investigations, they stopped short of undoing pending settlements.

“And two major policing consent decrees cases are awaiting court approval – in Minneapolis and Louisville. If the new leadership at DOJ doesn’t act proactively to withdraw, these cities could suffer under the weight of the last administration’s anti-police agenda.”

So yes, we still have a lot of work ahead.

Some Thoughts

Situations are changing rapidly, so much so in fact, that it seems as soon as I press Publish, a new development has emerged. In this fast-paced environment, it’s all too easy to miss out on important information.

In the interest of promoting efficiency and effectively advocating for law enforcement, I ask that those who work on these issues consider uniting for the greater good. We can get so much more done if we work together.

Because unless we get critical bills passed (like those mentioned above) in the short window we’ve been given, we’re going to keep running into the same situations over and over again.

With that, be prepared for a productive (and hectic!) year ahead.

Wishing you the best. : )

---

For the Blue is a solutions-based initiative. I’m just an American patriot asking questions. I don’t work with any political party and I answer to nobody. For me, the health of the nation, due process (including for police officers), the rule of law, and respect for individual liberties, will always transcend party affiliation. I welcome your thoughts, even if you disagree; though personal attacks will be ignored. You can reach me at fortheblue@substack.com.