Criminal Justice

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 3, 2026

S 5214: Protect and Serve Act of 2026

The Protect and Serve Act of 2026 creates a new federal crime for willfully attempting to kill a law enforcement officer solely because of their status, provided the act involves interstate travel, commerce, weapons, or affects economic activity. This law applies to both state and federal officers and mandates that any federal prosecution must be certified by the Attorney General, who must determine if state charges were insufficient or if federal intervention serves the public interest. The bill defines a law enforcement officer as anyone authorized to prevent, detect, or investigate crimes, or to detain individuals, and sets specific prison terms ranging from years to life depending on whether the attempt results in serious bodily injury.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates a federal crime to protect law enforcement officers, enhancing their safety and strengthening the justice system's ability to prosecute attacks on officers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement

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in committee · United States · Senate May 19, 2026

S 4576: Jewish American Security Act

The Jewish American Security Act aims to combat antisemitism by strengthening protections for Jewish students, securing Jewish communities, and increasing transparency regarding online hate speech. To support Jewish students, the bill requires schools receiving federal funds to designate coordinators for civil rights complaints, issue annual reminders about anti-discrimination policies, and publish detailed data on bias-related incidents. For community safety, the legislation increases funding for security grants for religious institutions and mandates joint annual threat assessments from federal agencies to track domestic and transnational antisemitic violence. Additionally, the act requires major online platforms to submit regular transparency reports detailing how they detect, remove, and moderate antisemitic content on their sites.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens protections for civil rights and mandates transparency in handling bias incidents, aligning with indicators for supporting criminal justice reform and accountability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

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in committee · United States · House May 4, 2026

HRES 1257: Expressing support for the designation of May 5, 2026, as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls".

This resolution expresses support for designating May 5, 2026, as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. It calls on the public and organizations to honor the victims and show solidarity with their families. The bill also recommends that the Department of Justice commission a new study to gather updated statistics on the crisis, noting that previous data is nearly a decade old.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes awareness and calls for updated statistics on missing Indigenous women, addressing a critical gap in criminal justice data and accountability.85% confidence

Tags Tribal Nations

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 30, 2026

S 4447: No Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Sex Criminals Act

This bill, titled the No Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Sex Criminals Act, prohibits federal government employees and military personnel from receiving pension benefits if they are convicted of specific sex crimes. The law amends existing federal statutes to ensure that anyone convicted of offenses such as rape, child molestation, or sexual exploitation after the bill's enactment will have their annuities and retired pay forfeited. These penalties apply to crimes committed on or after the date the law is passed, covering both federal offenses and state crimes that would be considered federal sex offenses if committed in federal territory. The legislation also includes technical updates to related sections of the U.S. Code to ensure the forfeiture rules are consistently applied across different retirement systems.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes taxpayer-funded pensions for sex criminals, protecting public funds and enhancing accountability for serious offenses.95% confidence ✗ VeteransOpposes VeteransBill restricts pension benefits for military personnel convicted of sex crimes, limiting veteran financial support.95% confidence

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 30, 2026

S 4446: PRESS Act

The PRESS Act amends federal law to make it illegal to manufacture or distribute specific equipment used to produce drugs if the seller knows it will be used for unlawful importation into the United States. This legislation targets items such as tableting machines, encapsulating machines, and gelatin capsules, extending criminal liability to manufacturers and distributors involved in the supply chain for illegal drug production. Violators of these provisions face potential fines and prison sentences ranging from ten to twenty years, depending on the type of chemical involved and the quantity of equipment. Additionally, the bill requires the United States Sentencing Commission to update federal sentencing guidelines to align with these new penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeThe bill strengthens criminal justice by expanding liability for drug manufacturing equipment, aiding law enforcement and reducing illegal drug supply.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 15, 2026

S 545: Combating Illicit Xylazine Act

The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act places xylazine - a veterinary sedative increasingly found in illicit drug mixtures - into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, subjecting it to federal regulation as a controlled substance. It specifically allows veterinary use without requiring registration of the ultimate user (e.g., pet owners or veterinarians) if xylazine is dispensed by a registered veterinarian or pharmacy with a vet prescription and used for animals owned by the user, under their care, or in authorized animal programs. The bill provides a one-year delay for labeling and packaging requirements and a 60-day delay for registration and recordkeeping for veterinary use to ease implementation. Additionally, it adds xylazine to the Arcos tracking system for controlled substances and mandates two congressional reports on illicit use prevalence within 18 months and 4 years of enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill regulates illicit drug xylazine to combat drug-related crimes, strengthening law enforcement and public safety through controlled substance regulation.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill regulates xylazine in illicit drugs to address public health threat, aligning with public health program protection under healthcare topic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Prescription Drugs

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in committee · United States · House Jan 22, 2025

HR 613: ATF Transparency Act

HR 613, the ATF Transparency Act, requires the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to improve transparency and speed for firearm transfer and manufacturing applications. It mandates that applicants denied a transfer due to background check issues receive their NICS transaction number, can appeal denials through a formal process, and may submit information to prevent future errors - plus, successful appellants get reimbursed for reasonable attorney fees. The bill also sets a strict 90-day deadline for ATF to approve or deny applications; if not decided within that time, the application is automatically approved. This directly affects individuals and businesses seeking to legally transfer or manufacture firearms who face delays or denials under current background check procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances ATF transparency and provides appeal mechanisms for denied firearm transfers, strengthening oversight and protecting civil rights within criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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passed · United States · Senate Jun 10, 2025

SRES 270: A resolution designating June 6, 2025, as National Naloxone Awareness Day.

This resolution designates June 6, 2025, as National Naloxone Awareness Day to raise public awareness about naloxone, a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. It urges federal, state, local governments, and organizations to improve access to naloxone and educate communities on its use, without creating new laws or funding. The resolution focuses on recognition and education, not policy changes or mandates.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeNaloxone access reduces overdose deaths, indirectly supporting public health and reducing burden on criminal justice system by preventing drug-related fatalities.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDesignates National Naloxone Awareness Day to improve access to opioid overdose reversal medication through education, aligning with healthcare support via public health awareness without new mandates.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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in committee · United States · Senate Oct 30, 2025

S 3085: Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act of 2025

This bill ensures that critical firearm-related operations continue during government shutdowns by designating them as "excepted" under federal law. It specifically covers the FBI's background check system (NICS), ATF enforcement programs, Commerce Department firearm export licensing, and State Department defense trade controls. These functions would remain operational even if most government services halt, directly affecting firearm background checks and export licensing processes. The policy change prevents temporary disruptions to gun sales and international firearm transactions during shutdowns.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnsures NICS background checks remain operational during shutdowns, maintaining a critical firearm safety measure in criminal justice enforcement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · United States · House Mar 5, 2025

HR 1702: JUDGES Act of 2025

The JUDGES Act of 2025 authorizes the creation of new federal district court judgeships across multiple jurisdictions to address rising caseloads. It specifies adding 1-2 new judges to 11 federal districts in 2025, with additional judgeships phased in through 2035 across California, Texas, Florida, New York, and other states. The bill also establishes temporary judgeships for Oklahoma's eastern district with specific vacancy rules, authorizes funding for these positions through 2035, and requires GAO reports on judicial caseload methodologies and detention space needs. This legislation directly affects federal courts in 15 states by increasing judicial staffing to address a 30% rise in filings since 1990, as noted in the bill's findings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds new federal judgeships to address court caseloads, directly strengthening the court system (core criminal justice component) without negative indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Judges

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