Bill > HR7278

This bill, titled the "Cost of Police Misconduct Act of 2026," mandates that Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies report detailed information about allegations of misconduct by their officers to the Attorney General. This includes data on judgments (final court orders) and settlements (agreements to resolve disputes before or after a lawsuit is filed) related to misconduct, which is defined as an unlawful, tortious, or otherwise inappropriate action by an officer in their official capacity. Federal agencies must collect and report specifics such as the type of misconduct alleged (e.g., use of force, racial profiling, body camera violations), demographic information of those involved if known, personnel actions taken, and the total amount paid to resolve the claim, including the source of the funds. State and local governments receiving funds from the Byrne JAG program (a grant program for criminal justice initiatives) are also required to collect and report similar information for their respective law enforcement agencies. Failure to comply with these reporting requirements can result in a reduction of up to 10% of funds allocated to these agencies from the Byrne JAG program and the "Cops on the Beat" program. The Attorney General will then make this data publicly available through a searchable online database, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) will conduct a study on the collected data to identify trends, causes of misconduct, and recommendations for reduction, with both the GAO and the Department of Justice submitting reports to Congress.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7278/all-info