Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act of 2025
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act amends federal firearm definitions so dating partners and similarly situated domestic-violence victims receive broader protection. It updates the intimate-partner and dating-relationship definitions, adds current or recent dating relationships connected to a victim's parent, guardian, or similarly situated person, and creates a federal definition of misdemeanor crime of stalking based on harassment, intimidation, or surveillance that creates fear or harm risk for the victim, family members, co-residents, intimate partners, or pets and service animals. The policy effect is to close firearm-access gaps for people convicted of stalking or domestic-violence misdemeanors outside narrow spouse or cohabitant categories.
Who Benefits and How
Domestic violence survivors benefit because firearm prohibitors would cover more current and former dating partners and similarly situated abusers. Stalking survivors benefit because misdemeanor stalking offenses can trigger firearm restrictions under federal law. Family members of victims benefit because the stalking definition includes fear for immediate family and co-residents. Pet-owning victims benefit because threats involving pets, service animals, or emotional support animals can be part of covered stalking conduct.
Who Bears the Burden and How
People convicted of covered misdemeanor stalking lose firearm access under the expanded federal prohibitor framework. Domestic-violence misdemeanants in dating relationships face broader firearm disabilities. Federal firearms licensees must screen transfers against expanded domestic-violence and stalking prohibitors. Background-check system staff must process more disqualifying records and definitional categories.
Key Provisions
- Expands intimate-partner definitions to include dating relationships and people similarly situated to spouses.
- Amends misdemeanor domestic-violence language to cover current or recent dating relationships connected to a victim's parent or guardian.
- Creates a misdemeanor crime of stalking definition tied to harassment, intimidation, surveillance, fear, and harm risk.
- Requires firearm transfer and possession screening to account for the expanded domestic-violence and stalking prohibitors.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Expands federal firearm restrictions tied to domestic violence, dating relationships, and misdemeanor stalking so more abusers and stalkers are barred from firearm access.
Key Policy Areas
Gun Violence, Domestic Violence, Criminal Justice
Primary Purpose
Expands federal firearm restrictions tied to domestic violence, dating relationships, and misdemeanor stalking so more abusers and stalkers are barred from firearm access.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Domestic violence survivors
- Stalking survivors
- Family members of victims
- Pet-owning victims
Identified Costs
- People convicted of misdemeanor stalking
- Domestic-violence misdemeanants
- Federal firearms licensees
- Background-check system staff
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMrs. Dingell (for herself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following …
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Domestic violence survivors, Stalking survivors
Domestic-violence misdemeanants, People convicted of misdemeanor stalking
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology