This bill would change parts of Title 18 of the United States Code. It would expand the federal definition of "intimate partner" to include someone who is or was in a dating relationship and other persons similarly situated to a spouse, including people protected under State or Tribal domestic or family violence laws. The bill replaces the definition of "dating relationship" with the phrase "continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature." It would also include children of current or recent dating partners in the definition of a "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence."
The bill creates a new federal definition of "misdemeanor crime of stalking." Under that definition, certain misdemeanor stalking offenses that involve harassment, intimidation, or surveillance that place a person (or certain people close to them) in reasonable fear of harm, or that cause or would reasonably be expected to cause emotional distress, would count as a misdemeanor crime of stalking. The bill would add conviction of such a misdemeanor stalking offense to the list of convictions that can prohibit a person from shipping, transporting, possessing, or receiving firearms. The bill also includes procedural protections for such misdemeanor convictions (rights to counsel, jury trial or valid waiver) and a rule about expunged, pardoned, or rights-restored convictions.
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Sponsors (including Representatives Debbie Dingell and Brian Fitzpatrick) introduced the bill to amend Title 18. The text shows they intend to expand the scope of who counts as an intimate partner, include certain children of dating partners, define misdemeanor stalking for federal purposes, and add qualifying misdemeanor stalking convictions to firearms prohibitions while preserving specified procedural protections.
No publicly available information.