[01/16/25, WASHINGTON DC.] – Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced the Qualified Immunity Act of 2025 in the Senate today, a bill to protect our law enforcement officers as they carry out their duties in increasingly challenging and high-crime environments.  Rep. Virginia Foxx  (R- NC 5) will lead the companion effort in the House alongside Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R- WI 3). Police Officers’ Defense Coalition fully supports this legislation and stands alongside numerous other law enforcement organizations in advocating for its passage.

Nearly 80% of law enforcement agencies have recently reported difficulty recruiting new officers, with applicants citing fear of personal liability as a major concern. And a recent survey by the Police Executive Research Forum found that over 60% of officers feel hesitant to engage proactively in policing due to the potential for lawsuits or disciplinary actions.  The Qualified Immunity Act of 2025 would codify legal protections for officers acting within the scope of their duties and in good faith while maintaining accountability for clear misconduct. It strikes a careful balance to ensure officers are shielded from undue liability while allowing for responsible oversight of their actions.

Bert Eyler, Vice President of PODC, commented, “The Qualified Immunity Act of the 119th Congress, championed by Senator Jim Banks, Rep. Virginia Foxx, and Rep. Derrick Van Orden, is exactly what law enforcement needs to solidify the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision protecting officers from frivolous lawsuits. It’s time for the 119th Congress to step up and make Qualified Immunity a permanent law so officers can breathe easier after every call, knowing that Congress truly has their backs.” 

Other law enforcement organizations that support the Qualified Immunity Act include the Indiana State Police Alliance, National Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police, National Center for Police Defense, Minneapolis Police and Peace Officers Association, the Austin Police Department Association, Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police, National Association for School Resource Officers, and the Prince William County Police Association. 

Vice President Bert Eyler also commented that “this aligned regiment [of organizations] represents law enforcement from every small town to the largest cities in America. For decades, these officers and their families—representing millions of votes across the country—have been waiting for Congress to formally protect them and their loved ones by codifying Qualified Immunity into law. Now is the moment for Congress to heed their call.”

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