This bill establishes financial liability for private detention centers and their employees if they cause the wrongful death of a person held there. It allows families of deceased individuals to sue in federal court for at least $5 million in statutory damages plus economic and punitive damages. The law removes the ability of detention staff to use immunity defenses to avoid responsibility and holds the facility itself responsible for the actions of its workers. These rules apply specifically to private companies contracted by the federal government to detain people accused of breaking civil, criminal, or immigration laws.
The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act of 2026 adds new federal penalties for intentionally causing collisions with commercial motor vehicles. It directly affects drivers who stage these accidents and those who arrange for others to do so. Under the bill, a driver who intentionally crashes into a commercial truck faces up to 20 years in prison, while causing serious injury or death in such a staged event carries a minimum sentence of 20 years. The law also holds organizers of these staged crashes criminally liable under the same sentencing guidelines. Prosecution under this federal statute is barred if the individual has already been convicted or acquitted for the same act in state court.
The Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act of 2026 establishes a formal policy to support democracy and human rights in Turkey while directly affecting U.S. security assistance and diplomatic engagement with the Turkish government. The bill conditions the release of U.S. security funds on the Turkish government certifying that it has reduced the number of political prisoners, stopped using counterterrorism laws to suppress free expression, and complied with European Court of Human Rights rulings. Additionally, the legislation mandates annual reports on human rights conditions in Turkey and authorizes the provision of funding to civil society organizations working to secure the release of detained individuals. If the Turkish government fails to take effective steps to address these violations, the bill directs the President to impose sanctions, restrict visas for responsible officials, and prohibit the export of surveillance technologies to Turkey.
This bill, known as the No Campaign Funded Cover-Ups Act, restricts how candidates and federal officials can use campaign money or legal expense funds when facing accusations of sexual assault, abuse, or harassment. Under the new rules, these funds cannot pay for legal fees, settlements, court judgments, or private investigations aimed at discrediting the accuser. The legislation also requires detailed reporting of any legal expenses paid from these sources and applies retroactively to payments made in the two years before the law takes effect.
The Judicial FOIA Expansion Act requires federal courts to release specific records to the public under the Freedom of Information Act. This law mandates the disclosure of attorney disciplinary actions, complaints against judges, meeting minutes, jury selection forms, and performance reports, while explicitly excluding information about ongoing cases. The bill also directs courts to provide this data in machine-readable formats and authorizes $10 million in funding to establish an office within the Administrative Office of the United States Courts to manage these requirements.
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This bill, known as the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, strengthens the ability of state attorneys general, district attorneys, and victims to legally challenge the U.S. Attorney General for withholding or redacting records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. It grants these parties the right to sue in federal court to force the release of unredacted documents, including classified materials, while requiring courts to expedite these cases. The legislation clarifies that federal agencies cannot use standard legal privileges to hide relevant evidence and explicitly defines who qualifies as a victim for the purposes of accessing these files. Additionally, it ensures that state and local law enforcement can use the released information in their own investigations without being restricted by federal privacy regulations.
To amend section 149.43 and to enact section 2901.51 of the Revised Code to allow a law enforcement officer to petition the court to remove the officer's name from a prosecutor's Brady-Giglio list.
This bill creates a new crime for taking possession of ballots that eligible voters have already marked and submitted through legal means. It specifically makes it a class E felony for anyone to seize, confiscate, remove, or otherwise take control of these valid ballots. The law includes exceptions for election officials working with proper approval and law enforcement officers acting under a valid court order. By defining these actions as a felony, the legislation aims to protect the integrity of the voting process from unauthorized interference.
This bill, known as the Shielding Information for Lawful and Ethical Disclosure Act, prevents Michigan government agencies from sharing large amounts of personal data with federal immigration officials without specific authorization. It defines "bulk disclosure" as transferring data on multiple people without reviewing each case individually and allows such sharing only if a court order exists, the transfer serves a specific law enforcement purpose, or it is immediately necessary to protect health and safety. The law applies to all state, county, and municipal departments and officers, while giving the state attorney general the power to seek court orders to stop illegal data sharing.
This bill, titled the Safe Access to Facilities Act, prohibits Michigan state and local government agencies from allowing federal immigration officers into nonpublic areas unless a court issues a judicial warrant. The law specifically targets the conduct of government employees, requiring them to refuse entry to private spaces without a warrant based on probable cause. However, the legislation includes exceptions that allow access without a warrant during criminal investigations, when there is an immediate threat to public safety, or when emergency medical care is needed.
