hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Requires agencies to report police misconduct settlements publicly.
Mr. Beyer, Ms. McClellan, and Ms. Norton introduced it.
Introduced in House, referred to committee.
This bill, officially known as the "Cost of Police Misconduct Act of 2026," was introduced in the 119th Congress on January 30, 2026. It requires federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to collect and publicly report detailed information on judgments and settlements related to officer misconduct. Agencies that do not comply could face reductions in federal grant funding. The bill was sponsored by Representative Beyer, Ms. McClellan, and Ms. Norton.
Introduced Jan 30, 2026
This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 30, 2026, during the 119th Congress, and has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. For it to become law, it would first need to be approved by this committee, then pass a vote in the full House. After that, it would proceed to the Senate for similar consideration, and finally, if passed by both chambers, would be sent to the President for signature or veto.
If this bill passes, the Department of Justice would create a public database showing how much federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies pay in judgments and settlements for officer misconduct. This could lead to greater transparency regarding how your tax dollars are spent and potentially highlight patterns of misconduct. State and local agencies receiving federal grants could face financial penalties if they fail to report this information, which could impact local policing budgets. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) would also study this data, offering recommendations to reduce misconduct.
Supporters Say
Proponents would argue this bill increases transparency and accountability for law enforcement agencies by making misconduct costs public and could help reduce future incidents.
Critics Say
Critics might raise concerns about the administrative burden on agencies or potential privacy issues for officers, even with privacy protections.
Supporters believe that collecting and publicly sharing comprehensive data on police misconduct and its financial costs is crucial for promoting trust and improving police practices. They would emphasize that this transparency can lead to better training, policies, and ultimately reduce instances of misconduct and the associated taxpayer expense. While the bill includes a rule to protect officer privacy, critics might still express concerns about the potential for individual officer information to be inferred, or the burden placed on smaller agencies to collect and report such detailed data.