hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Bans fees for public access to law enforcement camera video.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and 15 co-sponsors.
Introduced in House, referred to Judiciary Committee.
The bill requires any state or local government receiving federal grants from two major law enforcement funding programs (Byrne and COPS) to certify they don't charge the public any fees to view or obtain copies of body camera, dash camera, jail surveillance, or other law enforcement footage. Without that certification, they lose eligibility for the grants. The sponsor is a progressive Democrat, and the bill is early in the process.
Introduced Jan 15, 2026
This bill has been introduced in its chamber of Congress. It has been assigned a bill number and referred to a committee for review. Most bills never advance past this stage. The committee may hold hearings, gather expert testimony, and amend the bill before deciding whether to send it to the full chamber for a vote.
Currently, many police departments charge administrative or court fees for releasing footage. This bill ties compliance to federal funding, so departments would likely stop charging to keep their grants. It covers body cams, dash cams, jail/prison surveillance, and other law enforcement footage. However, it only applies to agencies that receive Byrne or COPS grants, not all departments.
Supporters Say
Supporters say removing cost barriers helps the public hold police accountable, especially in cases of misconduct.
Critics Say
Critics argue processing video requests is expensive, and unfunded mandates could strain local budgets or reduce grant participation.
The bill does not provide funding to cover the cost of redacting footage or fulfilling requests. Some departments worry about administrative burdens. Supporters counter that transparency is worth the cost and that current fees discourage legitimate oversight.