Qualified Immunity Act of 2025

The Qualified Immunity Act of 2025 would codify into federal law the judicial doctrine of qualified immunity for law enforcement officers. Currently, courts have developed qualified immunity through case law, which shields government officials from civil liability unless they violated rights that were clearly established at the time of their actions. This bill would put that protection into statute for federal, state, and local law enforcement officers.

Under this bill, law enforcement officers would be protected from civil lawsuits if either the constitutional right they allegedly violated was not clearly established when their action occurred, or if a court has determined that their specific conduct was constitutional. The bill would also protect law enforcement agencies and local governments from liability when their officers are entitled to qualified immunity.

If enacted, this bill could make it more difficult for citizens to successfully sue police officers for constitutional violations, as they would need to prove the officers violated a right that was clearly established at the time of the incident. The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.