Bill > HR194

This bill, known as the Venue Named Under Exception Act (VENUE Act), modifies venue rules for criminal cases involving offenses committed in the National Capital Region (defined as the District of Columbia, specific counties in Maryland and Virginia, and their associated cities). Under the proposed legislation, if a criminal offense occurs on federal property within this region, the indictment or information can be filed in the district of the last known residence of the offender, or if no residence is known, in the District of Columbia. The bill provides a mechanism for defendants to request a transfer of their case to the district court where they are domiciled, with a priority system for multiple defendants and an explicit exclusion for defendants not domiciled in the United States. The legislation applies only to cases not yet scheduled for trial and does not supersede existing venue statutes for specific types of offenses. By creating this new provision, the bill aims to provide more flexibility in determining the appropriate court venue for federal criminal cases in the National Capital Region, potentially making the legal process more convenient for defendants while maintaining the judicial system's ability to prosecute offenses effectively.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/194/all-info