Criminal Justice (Civil Rights) in United States

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 23, 2026

S 5122: Inclusive Democracy Act of 2026

The Inclusive Democracy Act of 2026 ensures that individuals convicted of criminal offenses retain the right to vote in federal elections, regardless of whether the conviction occurred before or after the law's enactment. It mandates that courts, prisons, and parole offices notify incarcerated and supervised individuals that their criminal record does not strip them of their voting rights. The bill also requires carceral settings to provide voter registration forms and absentee ballot applications, allowing inmates to use either their prison address or their last known home address to register. Additionally, the legislation permits candidates and nonpartisan groups to distribute voting materials inside prisons and prohibits prosecution of inmates who mistakenly vote in local or state elections while registered for federal offices.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Probation & Parole Tags Elections

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 16, 2026

S 5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act

The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act fundamentally changes federal law by removing marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, effectively decriminalizing it at the federal level and allowing states to regulate their own cannabis markets without federal interference. To manage this new landscape, the bill creates a new federal agency called the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Tax and Trade Bureau to oversee licensing, collect taxes, and prevent illicit trade, while also establishing a new Center for Cannabis Products within the FDA to regulate safety and labeling. The legislation includes significant restorative justice measures, such as automatically expunging federal cannabis convictions and prohibiting discrimination against individuals with such records in areas like immigration, security clearances, and access to federal benefits. Additionally, the bill provides billions of dollars in funding to support research into the health effects of cannabis, expand access to financial services for legitimate cannabis businesses, and assist communities and individuals harmed by past prohibition enforcement.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Drug Policy

in committee · United States · House Jul 3, 2026

HR 9579: Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Authorization Act

This bill establishes a new Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within the Department of Homeland Security, led by an Officer who reports directly to the department head. The Office is tasked with overseeing compliance with civil rights laws, reviewing potential abuses or profiling by employees, and integrating these protections into all department policies and programs. It grants the Officer authority to investigate complaints, issue public reports on findings, and coordinate with other officials to ensure diverse communities are engaged effectively. Additionally, the legislation requires each major department unit to have its own civil rights officer and mandates annual reporting to Congress on the Office's activities and progress.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Tags Civil Liberties

in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2026

HRES 1394: Condemning prosecution policies that give preferential treatment to foreign nationals over United States citizens.

This resolution expresses strong disapproval of local prosecution policies that allegedly offer special leniency to foreign nationals compared to U.S. citizens. It argues that such practices endanger public safety and violate federal civil rights laws by failing to treat all individuals equally under the law. The text calls on state and local prosecutors to ignore immigration status when deciding how to handle criminal cases and urges the Department of Justice to investigate these alleged preferential treatments. Ultimately, the measure aims to ensure that every crime is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law regardless of the suspect's background.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Human Trafficking Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 21, 2026

S 4767: Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act

The Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act extends the funding authorization for the African American Civil Rights Network by three years. This change allows the network to continue its operations and support civil rights education for an additional period beyond the original seven-year limit. The bill directly affects the federal funding available to this specific organization but does not alter its core mission or activities. By updating the timeline in the relevant section of the U.S. Code, the legislation ensures continued financial support without changing the program's substantive provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 8, 2026

S 4706: Equal Remedies Act of 2026

The Equal Remedies Act of 2026 expands the types of damages available to individuals who file discrimination lawsuits. It allows victims of race discrimination to receive compensation for both financial losses and non-financial harms like emotional pain and loss of enjoyment of life. The bill also permits any party in a race discrimination case to request a jury trial. Additionally, the law extends these expanded remedies to age discrimination cases, enabling plaintiffs to seek the same broad range of relief available in sex and race discrimination suits. These changes apply to individuals bringing claims under federal civil rights laws and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Employment Discrimination

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 Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights

in committee · United States · House May 29, 2026

HR 9066: Community-Based Approaches to Prevent and Address Hate Crimes Act of 2026

This bill establishes a $30 million grant program over five years to fund community-based organizations working to prevent and address hate crimes. The funds can be used for various initiatives, including conflict resolution strategies, non-carceral sentencing programs, public education campaigns, and support services for victims and defendants. Eligible recipients must be nonprofits embedded within communities targeted by hate crimes that provide educational, health, and social services. Additionally, the legislation removes a specific spending limit on grants for criminal investigations and prosecutions related to these crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Sentencing

in committee · United States · House May 20, 2026

HR 8932: Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2026

The Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2026 establishes a temporary United States Commission on Hate Crimes to investigate the rising number of bias-motivated incidents and improve how they are reported. The ten-member commission, appointed by congressional leaders and the Attorney General, will examine factors like social media's role in hate crimes and identify barriers preventing local law enforcement from fully participating in federal reporting systems. Within one year of its formation, the commission must submit a report to Congress and the President with findings and recommendations for better prevention and data collection. Additionally, the bill requires an independent audit by the Government Accountability Office to verify the accuracy of hate crime data collected by the FBI.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

in committee · United States · Senate May 20, 2026

S 4596: TRUST Act

The TRUST Act establishes new hiring standards and operational rules for U.S. immigration enforcement officers to improve professionalism and transparency. It raises the minimum age requirement to 21, mandates comprehensive background checks including social media reviews, and requires specialized training on de-escalation, civil rights, and preventing discrimination. The legislation also mandates that officers wear uniforms and badges only while on duty, carry official identification, and use body-worn cameras during public interactions, with strict penalties for failing to record or tampering with footage. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to release unedited video recordings of incidents involving misconduct or serious injury to the public within a specified timeframe.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

All criminal justice bills