1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Mens Rea Reform Act of 2017 . 2. State of mind element for criminal offenses (a) Chapter 1 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 28. State of mind when not otherwise specifically provided (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term covered offense — (A) means an offense— (i) specified in— (I) this title or any other Act of Congress; (II) any regulation; or (III) any law (including regulations) of any State or foreign government incorporated by reference into this title or any other Act of Congress; and (ii) that is punishable by imprisonment, a maximum criminal fine of at least $2,500, or both; and (B) does not include— (i) any offense set forth in chapter 47 or chapter 47A of title 10; or (ii) any offense incorporated by section 13(a) of this title; (2) the term knowingly , as related to an element of an offense, means— (A) if the element involves the nature of the conduct of a person or the attendant circumstances, that the person is aware that the conduct of the person is of that nature or that such circumstances exist; and (B) if the element involves a result of the conduct of a person, that the person is aware that it is practically certain that the conduct of the person will cause such a result; (3) the term state of mind means willfully, intentionally, maliciously, knowingly, recklessly, wantonly, negligently, or with reason to believe, or any other word or phrase that is synonymous with or substantially similar to any such term; and (4) the term willfully , as related to an element of an offense, means— (A) that the person acted with knowledge that the person’s conduct was unlawful; and (B) if the element involves the nature, attendant circumstances, object, or result of the conduct of a person, that— (i) the person had knowledge of the nature, attendant circumstances, object, or result of his or her conduct; and (ii) it was the conscious object of the person to engage in conduct— (I) of that nature