[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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