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S 868 118th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Assault and harassment offenses Crime victims Criminal procedure and sentencing Law enforcement officers Political movements and philosophies Terrorism Violent crime

Defending Our Defenders Act

Introduced: March 16, 2023 Introduced by: Cotton, Tom Republican · Arkansas See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 118th Congress ended
It never became law before the 118th Congress (2023–2024) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 16, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 16, 2023
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Defending Our Defenders Act

This bill establishes federal criminal offenses involving the murder of federal, state, or local law enforcement officers. Violators are subject to life in prison or death.

The bill sets forth aggravating factors (e.g., intent to ambush or prior history of promoting violence against a law enforcement officer) to be considered in determining whether to impose the death penalty.

What's happening now March 16, 2023

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 1627 Related bill Sergeant Steve Owen Defending Our Defenders Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 868: Defending Our Defenders Act. 118th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-868/
MLA
"S. 868: Defending Our Defenders Act." 118th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-868/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 868, 118th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-868/.
Markdown link
[S. 868: Defending Our Defenders Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/118-S-868/)
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