Sponsors (12)
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Creates a new, narrowly defined category of "eligible organization" and authorizes the State Justice Institute (SJI) to provide financial and technical support to establish State judicial threat and intelligence resource centers. Those centers would help courts assess and respond to threats, coordinate with law enforcement and fusion centers, develop standardized threat reporting and a national database, and support research and training. The bill also requires SJI to deliver annual reports to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees counting and categorizing threats against State and local judges and court staff, with the first report due within one year after a center is established.
Amend paragraph (7) of Section 202 by striking the word "and" at the end of the paragraph.
Amend paragraph (8)(B) of Section 202 by striking the period at the end of the paragraph and inserting a semicolon and the word "and" (to allow addition of a new paragraph).
Add a new paragraph (9) to Section 202 that defines the term "eligible organization". The definition states that an "eligible organization" means a national nonprofit organization that meets all of the following: (A) provides technical assistance and training on, and has expertise and national-level experience in, judicial security and safety at the State and local levels; (B) has experience in courthouse design and courthouse security design standards; (C) has an understanding of State judicial operations and public access to judicial services; and (D) has experience working with a wide array of different judges and court systems, including an understanding of the challenges facing trial courts, appellate courts, rural courts, and limited-jurisdiction courts at the State and local levels. This addition is part of the amendment to Section 202 in the provided file .
In Section 206(c) of the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10705(c)), paragraph (14) is amended by striking "and" at the end.
In Section 206(c) of the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10705(c)), paragraph (15) is redesignated as paragraph (16).
Primary effects: State and local judges and court staff would benefit from enhanced training, threat assessments, and coordinated support. State and local courts may gain access to standardized reporting, technical assistance, and a national threat database to inform security planning. State and local law enforcement and fusion centers would be partners in coordination and information sharing, improving situational awareness but also increasing demands for interagency data exchange. Eligible national nonprofit organizations with expertise in judicial security, courthouse design, and court operations would be positioned to receive SJI grants or technical contracts. The State Justice Institute will take on new program and reporting responsibilities. Because the bill authorizes support but does not appropriate funds, actual impact will depend on future funding decisions; implementation will also need to address privacy, data-protection, and information-sharing agreements to protect sensitive law-enforcement and judicial safety information. Overall the measure is likely to strengthen judicial security posture and information-sharing while creating modest administrative workload for SJI and partner organizations.
Amends subsection (c) of 42 U.S.C. 10705 by (1) striking "and" at the end of paragraph (14); (2) redesignating existing paragraph (15) as paragraph (16); and (3) inserting a new paragraph (15) authorizing provision of financial and technical support to establish, implement, and operate State judicial threat and intelligence resource centers with specified functions (A)–(F).
Amends the definitions in section 202 of the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10701) by (1) striking the word "and" at the end of paragraph (7); (2) replacing the period at the end of paragraph (8)(B) with "; and"; and (3) adding a new paragraph (9) that defines the term "eligible organization" as a national nonprofit organization meeting specified criteria (subparagraphs (A)–(D)).
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Received in the House.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Introduced July 22, 2025 by John Cornyn · Last progress November 20, 2025
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8398-8399; text: CR S8398-8399)