FAIR Act of 2024

The FAIR Act of 2024 (S 5512) fundamentally changes civil forfeiture by requiring all property seizures to go through judicial process rather than allowing government agencies to seize property without court involvement. It raises the government's burden of proof from "preponderance of the evidence" to "clear and convincing evidence" to establish a property connection to criminal activity. The bill establishes new timelines for notifying property owners and requires courts to consider factors like hardship to property owners when making forfeiture decisions. These changes directly affect individuals whose property is seized by federal agencies in connection with alleged criminal activity.