Criminal Justice Bills Across the Country

in committee · United States · House Aug 27, 2026

HR 10157: Freedom to Home Distill Act

The Freedom to Home Distill Act would allow individuals to legally produce small amounts of alcohol at home for personal use without paying federal excise taxes or facing criminal penalties. To qualify, a household could distill up to 10 proof gallons per year if it has one adult, or 20 proof gallons if it has two or more adults, provided the spirits are never sold or transferred to others. The bill exempts home distillers from standard business requirements such as registering their equipment and paying taxes, but it mandates that any stills purchased for this purpose must have specific safety features like pressure release valves and a capacity of no more than 50 gallons. These changes would take effect for spirits produced after December 31, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · United States · Senate Aug 7, 2026

S 5371: Stopping Border Surges Act

The Stopping Border Surges Act proposes significant changes to U.S. immigration law regarding unaccompanied children and asylum seekers. It mandates that unaccompanied alien children be repatriated to their home countries if they do not meet specific criteria, while also allowing for the detention of families who entered the country together for misdemeanor border-crossing charges. For asylum applicants, the bill restricts eligibility to those arriving at designated ports of entry and shortens the deadline to file an application from one year to six months. It introduces a "safe third country" provision that can bar asylum claims if an individual transited through another nation without seeking protection there first. Additionally, the legislation requires audio or video recording of expedited removal interviews, imposes criminal penalties for asylum fraud, and terminates asylum status if an individual voluntarily returns to their home country.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

passed · South Carolina · Senate Aug 11, 2026

S 1223: Don William Keller sympathy

A SENATE RESOLUTION TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE BY OFFICER DON WILLIAM "DJ" KELLER OF THE GREENWOOD CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND TO EXPRESS TO HIS FAMILY THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND APPRECIATION OF A GRATEFUL STATE FOR HIS LIFE, SACRIFICE, AND SERVICE.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Policing

passed · South Carolina · House Aug 11, 2026

H 5758: Police Officer Don "DJ" Keller, sympathy

A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE BY OFFICER DON WILLIAM "DJ" KELLER OF THE GREENWOOD CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND TO EXPRESS TO HIS FAMILY THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND APPRECIATION OF A GRATEFUL STATE FOR HIS LIFE, SACRIFICE, AND SERVICE.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Policing

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Aug 10, 2026

SB 1425: An Act establishing the Jayanna Powell Hit-and-Run Direct Notification System Pilot Program in the city of the first class; requiring registration of motor vehicle repair facilities; and imposing penalties.

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1425 establishes a five-year pilot program in Philadelphia that requires law enforcement to directly notify all registered motor vehicle repair facilities when a hit-and-run accident results in serious injury or death. The bill mandates that commercial garages and shops register with the city to receive these alerts, which include specific details such as the vehicle's make, model, color, license plate number, and extent of damage. If a repair facility discovers a vehicle in its possession that matches the description in an alert, the owner or operator must report it to law enforcement within 72 hours. Failure to comply with this reporting requirement is punishable by a third-degree misdemeanor, and the city must submit annual reports to state agencies detailing the program's costs and activity.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement Vehicle Registration

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Aug 7, 2026

HB 2730: An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in domestic and sexual violence victim address confidentiality, further providing for definitions and for Address Confidentiality Program, providing for private entity use of designated address and further providing for disclosure of actual address and for waiver process.

Pennsylvania House Bill 2730 amends state law to strengthen address confidentiality for victims of domestic and sexual violence who participate in the state's Address Confidentiality Program. The bill requires private entities, such as banks and real estate companies, to accept a designated substitute address instead of the participant's actual home or work location, with specific exceptions for certain registered offenders. It also allows program participants to request that their real property records be shielded from public inspection when they buy land or a house, ensuring their true address remains hidden in county deed records. Finally, the legislation establishes a detailed process for government agencies and private entities to request access to a participant's actual address, requiring them to prove a specific need and implement safeguards to protect that information once disclosed.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Aug 25, 2026

HB 2747: An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, further providing for schedules of controlled substances.

Pennsylvania House Bill 2747 amends the state's Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act to add eight specific synthetic benzimidazole-opioid substances, commonly known as nitazenes, to Schedule I of controlled drugs. These substances are classified as having a high potential for abuse with no currently accepted medical use in the United States. The bill directly affects individuals who manufacture, sell, or possess these specific chemicals by subjecting them to the strict penalties and regulations associated with Schedule I drugs. The new provisions take effect 60 days after the act is signed into law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Aug 7, 2026

HB 2729: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for the offense of animal hoarding; and, in sentencing, providing for sentencing for animal hoarding.

Pennsylvania House Bill 2729 creates a new misdemeanor of the third degree for animal hoarding, defined as keeping animals in conditions that are unsanitary, unhealthful, malodorous, or dangerous to people, animals, or property. The bill specifies that each animal kept in violation constitutes a separate offense, but it excludes animals classified as agricultural commodities from this definition. For sentencing, the law requires a mental health evaluation of the defendant before any sentence is scheduled. If the court finds that the defendant suffered from a psychological or psychiatric disability at the time of the offense, it must order treatment and stay legal action pending a report on that treatment. Upon successful completion of treatment, the court must order the forfeiture of the animals, prohibit future ownership, reverse the conviction, and expunge the arrest record.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Sentencing

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Aug 7, 2026

HR 594: A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study of Pennsylvania's parole process that identifies shortcomings and areas for improvement and issue a report with recommendations for reform.

House Resolution 594 directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on Pennsylvania's parole system and submit a report with reform recommendations within 18 months. The study is required to examine several specific areas, including the consistency of parole board decisions across different demographic groups and the current rules for recommitting individuals who commit technical violations rather than new crimes. Additionally, the commission must evaluate the feasibility of creating "geriatric parole" options for inmates over age 55 and streamlined administrative parole for low-risk offenders convicted of minor offenses. The resolution also calls for an assessment of how well current reentry planning programs work to help released individuals reintegrate into society and a review of policies used by other states to balance public safety with successful reintegration.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Aug 27, 2026

HB 2752: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in human trafficking, further providing for asset forfeiture.

Pennsylvania House Bill 2752 amends state criminal law to mandate the seizure of assets from individuals convicted of human trafficking offenses. The bill requires courts to order the forfeiture of any property used in the crime or derived from its proceeds, ensuring these assets are transferred to local district attorneys or the state Attorney General for sale. A key provision establishes that funds recovered through this process must be prioritized for victim restitution before being distributed to law enforcement agencies or other government bodies. This legislation directly affects convicted traffickers by expanding the scope of their financial penalties and aims to ensure victims receive compensation from the illicit gains of the offenders.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

Criminal Justice across the country

Bills introduced per week

All criminal justice bills

HR 10157: Freedom to Home Distill Act

S 5371: Stopping Border Surges Act

S 1223: Don William Keller sympathy

H 5758: Police Officer Don "DJ" Keller, sympathy

SB 1425: An Act establishing the Jayanna Powell Hit-and-Run Direct Notification System Pilot Program in the city of the first class; requiring registration of motor vehicle repair facilities; and imposing penalties.

HB 2747: An Act amending the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, further providing for schedules of controlled substances.

HR 594: A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study of Pennsylvania's parole process that identifies shortcomings and areas for improvement and issue a report with recommendations for reform.

HB 2752: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in human trafficking, further providing for asset forfeiture.