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Adds $20 million in federal grant funding to help prepare and protect public assembly facilities against mass violence. The Attorney General will award grants to State governments, local governments, and nonprofit organizations that serve victims of crime to support planning, training, and physical security measures for places where the public gathers. Sets standard definitions for terms used by the program — including “mass violence,” “active shooter,” “target violence,” and “public assembly facility” — to clarify who and what the grants are meant to cover and how eligibility and allowable activities will be interpreted.
Amend Section 506 of Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10157) by changing punctuation in existing subsection (a) paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting a new paragraph (3).
Add a new paragraph (3) in subsection (a) authorizing $20,000,000 to be granted by the Attorney General to States, units of local governments, and other nonprofit organizations that serve victims of crime to provide compensation, training, and technical assistance to public assembly facilities to prepare against mass violence and to protect public assembly facilities from mass violence.
Add definitions in a new subsection (c): defines “mass violence” to include active shooter incidents and targeted violence.
Define “active shooter” as an individual actively engaged in the unauthorized killing or attempting to kill a person or persons in a confined and populated area with a firearm.
Define “target violence” as an incident where an assailant known or knowable to local law enforcement identifies a particular target prior to a violent attack, which may be individuals, a class of individuals, or an institution, regardless of whether the assailant successfully harms the target.
Who is affected and how:
State governments: Directly eligible to apply for funds; can receive grants to support statewide preparedness programs, allocate subgrants, or coordinate regional security efforts.
Local governments (cities, counties, municipalities): Directly eligible; can use funds for local public assembly sites (e.g., schools, community centers, municipal venues) for training, physical security upgrades, and coordination with emergency services.
Nonprofit organizations that serve victims of crime: Eligible to apply; may receive funds to support victim-focused preparedness, survivor services tied to response planning, and partnerships with venues to implement protective measures.
Owners/operators of public assembly facilities (venues, houses of worship, schools, arenas): Intended beneficiaries of program activities; they may access support through grants awarded to eligible governments or nonprofits. Facilities can benefit from security upgrades, training, and improved emergency plans but may need to partner with or be sponsored by eligible grant recipients.
First responders and law enforcement: Will likely be involved in planning, training, and exercises funded by the grants, improving coordination and response capability for incidents at public assembly sites.
General public and potential victims: Indirect beneficiaries via improved preparedness, hardened facilities, better response protocols, and potentially reduced risk or improved outcomes during mass-violence incidents.
Practical effects and considerations:
Administrative burden: Applicants will need to meet DOJ grant requirements and comply with reporting and program rules; smaller jurisdictions or nonprofits may need technical assistance to compete.
Limited funding: $20 million nationwide is a modest amount and will likely fund a limited number of projects; many facilities will remain without federal support.
Implementation details matter: How the Attorney General and DOJ define eligible activities, prioritize applicants, and structure subgrants will determine which communities and facilities receive support.
Indirect economic effects: Security contractors, trainers, and equipment suppliers may see increased business from funded projects.
Civil liberties and equity considerations: Decisions about which venues and communities receive funding could raise equity concerns; program criteria and outreach will affect distribution across urban, suburban, rural, and underserved communities.
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Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced April 3, 2025 by Joseph Neguse · Last progress April 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House