Criminal Justice

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 30, 2026

S 5201: Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act

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.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens law enforcement tools by expanding firearm restrictions for domestic violence survivors and closing loopholes in current criminal justice statutes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Firearms Victims' Rights

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in committee · United States · Senate Aug 3, 2026

S 5212: No Payoffs for Pardons Act

The No Payoffs for Pardons Act requires individuals who receive presidential clemency to file financial disclosure reports if they provided gifts or payments worth at least $10,000 to the President, their family members, or related political entities in exchange for that clemency. These reports must detail the nature and value of the benefits provided and will be made publicly available by the Department of Justice, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for those who willfully fail to comply or submit false information. Additionally, the bill updates federal bribery laws to explicitly include executive clemency as a bribe and extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting such bribery cases to ten years. By mandating transparency around the exchange of money for pardons, the legislation aims to prevent the misuse of the pardon power while leaving the President's actual decision-making authority on granting clemency unchanged.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances transparency and accountability in presidential clemency, a key component of criminal justice oversight.90% confidence

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 14, 2026

S 4976: Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act of 2026

This bill establishes the Native Children's Commission Implementation Act of 2026 to improve health, education, and safety outcomes for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children and families. It creates several new advisory committees within federal agencies to provide ongoing guidance on issues such as juvenile justice, maternal health, substance abuse, and environmental protection. The legislation also authorizes grants and pilot programs to expand access to mental health services, increase the perinatal workforce, support Native language schools, and provide housing assistance for homeless youth and families. Additionally, it modifies existing laws to allow Tribes greater flexibility in administering nutrition and child care programs while ensuring they receive adequate funding for administrative costs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates advisory committees specifically for juvenile justice and funds programs to improve safety outcomes for Native children, indicating support for criminal justice reform.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly aims to improve education outcomes for Native children through new advisory committees and authorized grants for educational access.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates advisory committees specifically for environmental protection issues, indicating support for the topic.60% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly creates advisory committees for maternal health and substance abuse, and authorizes grants to expand mental health services for Native children.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse Women's Health

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2026

S 4926: State Firearms Dealer Licensing Enhancement Act

This bill creates a federal grant program to help states and tribal governments improve their licensing systems for firearms dealers. To qualify for funding, a state or tribe must already require dealers to hold a license, pass an application process, renew their license every three years, and submit to inspections. If a dealer breaks the rules, the state must be able to suspend or revoke their license and impose fines or criminal charges. The Attorney General will award up to $2.5 million per year in competitive grants to eligible applicants who submit plans for developing or improving these programs. Recipients must report annually on the number of inspections, violations, and licenses issued, renewed, or revoked, while the Attorney General will provide a public report on all grants awarded and denied.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by funding improved licensing, oversight, and enforcement mechanisms for firearms dealers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · United States · House Jun 24, 2026

HR 9440: State Firearms Dealer Licensing Enhancement Act

This bill creates a federal grant program to help states and tribal governments improve their licensing systems for firearms dealers. To qualify for funding, a state must have laws requiring dealers to hold licenses valid for no more than three years, complete an application process, and allow for inspections with penalties for noncompliance. The Attorney General will award up to $2.5 million per year on a competitive basis to eligible applicants who submit detailed plans for developing or improving their programs. Recipients must provide annual reports on inspection numbers, violations, and license status, while the Attorney General must report grant details and denial reasons to Congress.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens oversight of firearms dealers through licensing limits and inspections, enhancing public safety and law enforcement accountability.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 23, 2026

S 4857: Open Meetings Act of 2026

The Open Meetings Act of 2026 requires the Judicial Conference to provide public notice, live audio streaming, and recorded archives for its meetings. This law directly affects the Judicial Conference by mandating that meeting details be published online at least 30 days in advance and that audio streams be available to the public without charge or registration. While the conference must make these streams accessible, it retains the ability to hold closed sessions for legally protected or sensitive matters, provided it publicly explains the reason for doing so. Additionally, the conference must post the audio archives on its website within seven days after each meeting concludes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances transparency and public oversight of the Judicial Conference, aligning with indicators for improved accountability in the justice system.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates public notice, live streaming, and recorded archives for judicial meetings, enhancing digital access and transparency.85% confidence

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 8, 2026

S 4695: CONSENT Act

The CONSENT Act establishes a federal civil remedy for individuals who receive unsolicited intimate visual depictions, including those created using artificial intelligence or deepfake technology, without their consent. It defines consent as a voluntary and conscious authorization and prohibits the transmission of such images when the sender knows or should know the recipient has not agreed to receive them. Victims can sue for damages up to $1,000 or compensation for emotional distress, along with court orders to stop the distribution, while minors can file suit through guardians with their identities kept private. The law explicitly excludes good faith transmissions for medical, educational, or law enforcement purposes and clarifies that it does not override existing criminal laws or First Amendment rights.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes civil remedies for non-consensual intimate imagery, enhancing victim protection and accountability within the justice system.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects individuals from non-consensual deepfakes, enhancing digital privacy and cybersecurity against harmful AI misuse.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Law Enforcement Artificial Intelligence

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in committee · United States · House Jun 8, 2026

HR 9208: HEAR Act of 2026

The HEAR Act of 2026 makes it illegal for most people to import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess firearm silencers and mufflers. The law allows exceptions for law enforcement officers, campus security personnel, nuclear facility employees, and licensed manufacturers conducting authorized testing. To help individuals comply with the new restrictions, the bill requires the Attorney General to create a nationwide buy-back program that pays people who surrender their silencers. These changes would take effect 90 days after the bill is signed into law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by banning silencers for most citizens and mandates a buy-back program to remove them, restricting lawful possession.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

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in committee · United States · Senate May 20, 2026

S 4608: Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act

The Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act bans the imposition of the death penalty for any federal crime committed on or after the date the law takes effect. It directly affects individuals currently facing or serving federal death sentences by requiring that all such cases be resentenced to a penalty other than death. This legislation removes the death penalty as a sentencing option for federal offenses and mandates a review for those already sentenced to die before the bill becomes law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeThe bill eliminates the death penalty, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce harsh sentencing and protect civil rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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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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