119-hr3596

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3596 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 3596

 To direct the Judicial Conference to submit a report examining an 
 amendment to the Federal Rules of Evidence to further limit 
admissibility of evidence regarding an alleged victim's sexual behavior 
 or predisposition and to improve privacy protections for admissible 
 evidence.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 May 23, 2025

 Ms. Mace introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To direct the Judicial Conference to submit a report examining an 
 amendment to the Federal Rules of Evidence to further limit 
admissibility of evidence regarding an alleged victim's sexual behavior 
 or predisposition and to improve privacy protections for admissible 
 evidence.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Rape Shield Enhancement Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. REPORT ON AMENDMENT TO THE RULES OF EVIDENCE TO FURTHER LIMIT 
 ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE REGARDING AN ALLEGED VICTIM'S 
 SEXUAL BEHAVIOR OR PREDISPOSITION AND TO IMPROVE PRIVACY 
 PROTECTIONS FOR ADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE.

 Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Judicial Conference shall submit to Congress--

    (1) a report reviewing Rule 412 of the Federal Rules of 
 Evidence, and identify amendments, in accordance with chapter 
 131 of title 28, United States Code, limited in scope to--
        (A) further limiting the admissibility of evidence 
 regarding the sexual behavior or predisposition of an 
 alleged victim of sexual assault; and
        (B) improving privacy protections for admissible 
 evidence related to the sexual behavior or 
 predisposition of an alleged victim of sexual assault, 
 including the subsequent disclosure of such evidence;

    (2) a report reviewing Rule 26 of the Federal Rules of 
 Civil Procedure, and identify amendments, in accordance with 
 chapter 131 of title 28, United States Code, that would--
        (A) narrow the scope of permissible discovery 
 requests to limit inquiries into the personal, 
 financial, social, psychological, sexual, medical, or 
 other private or confidential records or history of an 
 alleged victim of sexual assault, unless directly 
 relevant to the case;
        (B) establish clearer protections for the privacy 
 of such an alleged victim, including limitations on 
 subsequent disclosures of personal, financial, social, 
 psychological, sexual, medical, or other private or 
 confidential records or history of an alleged victim of 
 sexual assault; and
            (C) ensure that discovery practices are consistent 
 with Federal law protecting the rights of such an 
 alleged victim; and

    (3) a report reviewing Rule 16 of the Federal Rules of 
 Criminal Procedure, and identify amendments, in accordance with 
 chapter 131 of title 28, United States Code, that would--
        (A) narrow the scope of permissible discovery 
 requests to limit inquiries into the personal, 
 financial, social, psychological, sexual, medical, or 
 other private or confidential records or history of an 
 alleged victim of sexual assault, unless directly 
 relevant to the case;
        (B) establish clearer protections for the privacy 
 of such an alleged victim, including limitations on 
 subsequent disclosures of personal, financial, social, 
 psychological, sexual, medical, or other private or 
 confidential records or history of an alleged victim of 
 sexual assault; and
            (C) ensure that discovery practices are consistent 
 with Federal law protecting the rights of such an 
 alleged victim.
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