Sponsors (19)
The bill trades clearer accountability and potential stronger protections for victims of military hazing against increased criminal exposure, costs, and short‑term legal uncertainty for service members.
Service members will have clearer accountability around hazing because DOD is required to study creating a distinct criminal offense and definition for hazing under the UCMJ.
Service members harmed by hazing could receive stronger legal protections and more consistent punishment of perpetrators if the study leads to a new punitive article explicitly criminalizing hazing.
Congress and DOD (and by extension military leadership) will get a concrete, time‑bound (180‑day) report to inform legislative or policy action on hazing prevention and enforcement.
Service members could face expanded criminal exposure because creating a new punitive article may increase prosecutions and disciplinary actions for conduct deemed hazing.
Service members and taxpayers could bear higher administrative and legal costs if a new statutory offense leads to more investigations, prosecutions, and defense resources.
Service members may experience legal uncertainty because a statutory definition of hazing could prompt disputes over what conduct counts as hazing until courts and military authorities interpret the new article.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires DoD to study and report on creating a distinct UCMJ punitive article and statutory definition for hazing, with recommendations due within 180 days.
Official title: To direct the Secretary of Defense to analyze the feasibility and advisability of establishing a separate punitive article on hazing under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 26, 2026 by Judy Chu · Last progress May 26, 2026
Requires the Secretary of Defense, with the Joint Service Committee on Military Justice, to study whether and how to add a separate punitive article to the Uniform Code of Military Justice that specifically criminalizes hazing and to propose a statutory definition of “hazing.” The Secretary must send a report with analysis and recommendations to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees within 180 days of enactment.