Back to all bills
HR 5581119th CongressIn Committee
Uniform Standards Protection Act of 2025
Introduced: Sep 26, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3] (R-Louisiana)
Civil Rights & Justice
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The Uniform Standards Protection Act of 2025 would bar states from enacting or enforcing any laws that require Federal law enforcement officers to wear a specific uniform. The bill defines "Federal law enforcement officer" by referencing the meaning in 18 U.S.C. 115(c) and includes any U.S. official whose job involves enforcing immigration laws (per the Immigration and Nationality Act). In short, states could not impose their own uniform requirements on federal officers, and any ongoing legal proceedings against a federal officer for violating a state uniform rule that existed as of enactment could not proceed. The intent is to ensure uniform federal standards for uniforms, limiting state-level control in this area.
Key Points
- 1Preemption of state law: States cannot require federal officers to wear a particular uniform or comply with state uniform requirements.
- 2Definition of covered officers: The term includes federal law enforcement officers under 18 U.S.C. 115(c) and immigration-enforcement personnel as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- 3Prospective-only effect on ongoing proceedings: If a state uniform-rule violation case against a federal officer was pending at enactment, that case may not continue.
- 4Scope of limitation: The provision applies "notwithstanding" any state law, meaning it overrides conflicting state laws, rules, or ordinances on this topic.
- 5Purpose: To standardize uniform requirements across jurisdictions and reduce state-level regulatory variation for federal officers.
Impact Areas
Primary group/area affected: Federal law enforcement officers and the federal agencies that oversee their uniforms (e.g., agencies within the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security, including immigration enforcement personnel).Secondary group/area affected: State and local governments, including state legislators and police departments that would otherwise set or regulate uniform standards for federal officers.Additional impacts: Potential legal and constitutional considerations around federal preemption, effects on intergovernmental relations, and possible challenges or debates over the reach of state authority versus federal authority.
Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 8, 2025