The PROOF Act requires state agencies to provide specific records to the Attorney General when requested for investigating fraud in major federal assistance programs, such as Medicaid, food stamps, unemployment benefits, and disaster relief funds. This information sharing covers data like identity verification records, payment logs, and provider billing statements directly related to active investigations. To protect privacy, the bill mandates that the Justice Department handle all transferred data under existing privacy laws, use encryption for security, and destroy the information once legal proceedings are complete. Additionally, federal agencies may only use this data for fraud-related law enforcement purposes and must submit an annual report to Congress detailing the number of requests made and resulting convictions.
The Digital Asset Inventory and Audit Act of 2026 requires all federal agencies to scan seized electronic devices and data for cryptocurrency private keys and other digital assets within 180 days of enactment. The bill mandates that these assets be securely stored, with the Attorney General responsible for developing technical standards and training programs for law enforcement and forensic examiners. Federal agencies must conduct annual audits to verify secure custody and report their findings to Congress, while the Government Accountability Office will perform broader compliance reviews every three years. Funding for the necessary digital forensic tools is authorized through amendments to existing federal forfeiture funds.
The Bribery Accountability and Discovery Act (BAD Act) extends the time limit for prosecuting bribery or theft crimes involving public officials or federal funds. Under this change, the legal clock for bringing charges does not start until a federal law enforcement agency discovers the crime or receives a report about it. This provision directly affects individuals accused of these specific offenses by potentially allowing prosecutors more time to build cases that were previously hidden.
The Badge-to-Business Act amends the Small Business Act to waive guarantee fees for express loans made to qualified career law enforcement officers starting January 1, 2027. To qualify, an officer must have completed at least ten years of service and not be facing a pending criminal investigation or administrative proceeding for misconduct related to their official duties. This fee waiver applies to both currently employed officers and those who have separated from service, provided they meet the conduct requirements at the time of application. The provision includes an exception allowing the Administrator to collect fees if the cost of guaranteeing these loans results in a net loss for the Administration in a given fiscal year.
The Kids Safety on Set Act of 2026 mandates that adults with supervisory roles or frequent private contact with minors on entertainment productions must pass a criminal background check within 90 days before starting work. This check, which costs no more than $100 and is paid by the production company, specifically screens for offenses involving sex, violence, stalking, or minors. If a production employs someone who fails to meet this requirement, the Attorney General can seek a civil penalty of up to twice the cost of that person's project involvement. Additionally, the law requires an immediate halt to all production activities involving the non-compliant employee until they are terminated and stripped of any ownership interest greater than 2 percent in the project.
The Oversight Access Act prohibits the Secretary of Homeland Security from blocking Members of Congress or their staff from entering immigration detention facilities for oversight purposes. The bill also forbids requiring advance notice for these visits and bans any temporary changes to a facility that would alter what visitors observe compared to normal conditions. If the Inspector General determines that the Secretary has significantly failed to follow these rules, they must report the violation to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees within 30 days.
The Mail Theft and Postal Key Crime Prevention Act of 2026 requires the Attorney General to designate a specific assistant United States attorney in every federal judicial district to coordinate the investigation and prosecution of organized mail theft and related fraud schemes. These coordinators are tasked with working alongside federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to address crimes involving stolen postal keys, identity theft, and financial fraud facilitated by intercepted mail. The bill also mandates that the Attorney General submit an annual report to Congress for five years detailing trends in these offenses and the effectiveness of inter-agency coordination efforts. Additionally, it directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and update federal sentencing guidelines to ensure harsher penalties for crimes involving postal access devices, large-scale theft operations, or violence against postal workers.
The End Gas Station Heroin Act amends the Controlled Substances Act to place 7-hydroxymitragynine and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl in Schedule I, while exempting naturally occurring kratom products that meet specific low-concentration limits. The bill also creates a new enforcement mechanism for emerging synthetic opioids by treating them as Schedule I controlled substances when they are manufactured or distributed commercially. This provision applies to synthetic opioids that are more potent than morphine and not approved for medical use, but it explicitly prohibits criminal or civil penalties for simple possession or personal use.
The Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act expands federal firearm restrictions to include individuals subject to any domestic violence restraining order, including temporary or emergency orders issued without the abuser's presence. It broadens the legal definition of an "intimate partner" to cover dating partners and other relationships protected by state laws, closing previous loopholes that allowed some abusers to keep guns. The bill also creates a federal grant program for states and tribes to fund the removal, storage, and return of firearms from individuals subject to these orders, requiring them to partner with local domestic violence service providers to ensure victim safety.
The 9-8-8 and 9-1-1 Integration Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a multidisciplinary panel that will develop recommendations for training and protocols for emergency dispatchers. The primary goal is to ensure that individuals experiencing behavioral health or substance use crises are connected to appropriate care services rather than being met solely by law enforcement. The panel must consider integrating the 9-8-8 crisis line with the 9-1-1 system, utilizing standardized assessment tools to evaluate caller needs, and implementing training on cultural competency and implicit bias. Additionally, the legislation requires the creation of data collection standards to track response outcomes and disparities while protecting caller privacy, with reports submitted to Congress upon the release of recommendations and every five years thereafter.
