Summary#
This Senate resolution names January 2026 as "National Stalking Awareness Month" and calls for increased attention to stalking and support for victims. Its main change is a formal, public designation and encouragement for federal, state, local, private, and nonprofit groups to raise awareness and improve responses. The stated goal is to educate the public and encourage prevention and services for stalking victims.
- Main change: The Senate formally designates January 2026 as National Stalking Awareness Month and issues non-binding calls to action to many groups.
- Calls to action: The resolution applauds service providers and law enforcement, and it encourages policymakers, criminal justice officials, victim service agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, businesses, and the media to increase awareness and support services.
- Focus areas named in the text: increased investigation and prosecution, more victim services (including tailored programs), campus responses, and attention to technology-facilitated stalking.
- Facts cited: The resolution lists statistical findings about how common and harmful stalking is, and identifies groups with high rates (young adults, college students, people with disabilities).
- What is unclear: The resolution does not set specific goals, require actions, or provide funding or enforcement mechanisms.
What it means for you#
- Stalking victims and survivors: The resolution aims to increase public attention and encourage more services and better criminal-justice responses. This could mean more outreach, information, or awareness campaigns during January 2026.
- Service providers, police, prosecutors, colleges, and universities: The resolution asks these groups to increase awareness and improve responses to stalking. It does not require them to act or provide funding.
- Businesses and the media: The resolution urges them to promote awareness during the designated month. Participation is voluntary.
- General public: You may see more messaging, events, trainings, or media stories about stalking during January 2026. The resolution itself does not change laws or penalties.
- Policymakers and government agencies: The resolution encourages them to support availability of victim services and stronger investigations, but it does not create new obligations or allocate resources.
Expenses#
No direct public cost is identified in the available material.
- The resolution does not include funding for programs, grants, or new staff.
- Any costs would come from organizations or agencies that choose to run awareness campaigns or expand services; those costs are not estimated here.
- There is no fiscal note or budget estimate included in the text provided.
Proponents' View#
The bill appears intended to increase awareness of stalking and encourage prevention and support for victims. Possible arguments in favor, based on the resolution text, include:
- It raises public awareness about the prevalence and harms of stalking, which may help victims recognize and report it.
- It highlights the need for better criminal-justice responses and more victim services, including programs tailored to stalking victims.
- It draws attention to technology-facilitated stalking and campus safety, areas the resolution specifically mentions.
- A designated month can coordinate efforts by nonprofits, campuses, law enforcement, and media to share information and resources.
Opponents' View#
The resolution is short and mainly symbolic. Possible concerns or limits, based on the text, include:
- One concern is that the resolution does not provide any funding or require specific actions, so its practical effect may be limited.
- The resolution does not set measurable goals, timelines, or methods to track whether awareness or services actually increase.
- It leaves follow-up actions up to many different organizations and agencies, which may result in uneven efforts across places and communities.
- It does not change criminal law, penalties, or enforcement powers; any change to those areas would require separate legislation.