February 11, 2026
Ms. Elfreth (for herself, Mr. Evans of Colorado, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mrs. McClain Delaney, Ms. Norton, Ms. Salinas, and Mr. Schmidt) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To authorize the Attorney General to make grants to establish a national training and technical assistance center to provide for the ongoing promotion and adoption of lethality assessment programs to reduce domestic violence-related homicides, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
The Act may be cited as the Preventing Domestic Violence Homicides Through Lethality Assessment Training and Technical Assistance Act
.
Sec. 2. National lethality assessment program resource center grant
(a) In general
The Attorney General may make an award to one or more nonprofit or tribal organizations to establish a national training and technical assistance center to promote and support the adoption of lethality assessment programs by States, units of local government, and Indian Tribes.
(b) Qualifications
To be eligible for a grant under this section, an applicant shall demonstrate national experience in developing, implementing, evaluating, and disseminating a lethality assessment program for the purpose of reducing domestic violence-related homicides.
(c) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2026, to remain available until expended.
(d) Definitions
In this section:
(1)
The term lethality assessment program means a program that—
(A)
rapidly connects a victim of domestic violence to local community-based victim service providers;
(B)
helps first responders, such as law enforcement agencies, identify and respond to domestic violence situations that may result in death; and
(C)
identifies victims of domestic violence who are at high risk of being seriously injured or killed by an intimate partner through evidence-based tools that are validated for the community.
(2)
The terms have the meanings given such terms in section 40002 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12291).