Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 8 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, called the "Trafficking Survivors Relief Act of 2025," aims to help victims of human trafficking by allowing them to vacate certain convictions and expunge certain arrests if the crimes were a direct result of being trafficked. It also provides a legal defense for trafficking victims and requires reports on the implementation and impact of these changes. It also allows for the use of grants for legal representation for post-conviction relief.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +8
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill is beneficial for low-income trafficking victims as it waives fees for motions and provides potential legal representation for post-conviction relief, making justice more accessible.
- Scored +8
Does this shorten or soften prison sentences?
The bill allows victims of trafficking to vacate certain convictions and potentially reduce sentences, which is a positive reform.
- Scored +7
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
The bill can positively impact young adults who are victims of trafficking by providing them with a chance to clear their records and rebuild their lives.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Vacating convictions and expunging arrests (Section 2): Victims of trafficking who were convicted of or arrested for certain federal offenses (level A and sometimes level B offenses) may be able to have those convictions vacated and arrests expunged. This could help them clear their records and have a fresh start.
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Mitigating factors considered at sentencing (Section 2(e)): Covered prisoners may have their term of imprisonment reduced if the court finds that they committed the offense as a direct result of having been a victim of trafficking. This could lead to reduced sentences for trafficking victims.
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No fees for motions (Section 2(g)): Victims filing motions under this section will not be required to pay any filing fees, service charges, or other charges. This removes a financial barrier to accessing relief.
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Confidentiality (Section 2(h)): Motions filed under this section and related documents will be filed under seal, protecting the privacy of the trafficking victim.
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Human trafficking defense (Section 6): A defendant in a prosecution for a covered Federal offense may establish duress by demonstrating that the defendant was a victim of trafficking at the time at which the defendant committed the offense.
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Federal Aid (Section 6(e)): A failure to assert or failed assertion of a defense under subsection (b) by an individual who is convicted of a covered Federal offense may not be used for the purpose of disqualifying the individual from participating in any federally funded program that aids victims of trafficking.
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Use of Grants for Post-Conviction Relief Representation (Section 4): This section ensures that grants can be used to provide legal representation for post-conviction relief, which could help more victims navigate the legal process.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Definition of offenses (Section 2(a)): The bill defines "level A" and "level B" offenses, and relief is primarily targeted towards "level A" offenses which are not violent crimes, and "level B" offenses do not include violent crimes of which a child was a victim. This means that victims of trafficking who committed violent crimes against children may not be eligible for the same relief, which some may see as unfair or insufficient.
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Government opposition and court discretion (Section 2(b)(3) & (4)): The government can oppose motions to vacate convictions or expunge arrests, and the court has discretion in granting these motions. This means that even if a person was a victim of trafficking, they may not receive the relief they seek.
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Impact on crime victims (Section 8): The bill states that nothing in the Act should be construed to conflict with the rights of crime victims. This could potentially limit the extent to which relief is granted to trafficking victims if it is perceived to infringe on the rights of other crime victims.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill is beneficial for low-income trafficking victims as it waives fees for motions and provides potential legal representation for post-conviction relief, making justice more accessible. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — The bill can positively impact middle-aged adults who are victims of trafficking by providing them with a chance to clear their records and rebuild their lives. Would women be better off under this? — Since women are disproportionately victims of human trafficking, this bill has a good chance of helping them. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill can positively impact young adults who are victims of trafficking by providing them with a chance to clear their records and rebuild their lives. Would men be better off under this? — While trafficking disproportionately affects women, this bill can help men who are victims. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — This bill has a positive impact, but less significant, on middle-class households who are trafficking victims because it can clear records, but this demographic may have better access to legal representation already.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this shorten or soften prison sentences? — The bill allows victims of trafficking to vacate certain convictions and potentially reduce sentences, which is a positive reform.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill ensures confidentiality for trafficking victims by filing motions under seal, which enhances their privacy rights.
- 12/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/2/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 10/20/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/10/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Bernie MorenoRepublican · Ohio
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont