Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act

The Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act reforms the Department of Defense's 1033 program, which transfers surplus military equipment to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The bill prohibits the transfer of specific military-grade items, including controlled firearms (like automatic weapons), ammunition, grenades, mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, and silencers. For any permitted transfers, non-federal agencies must notify their local community, get approval from their local governing body, and certify the equipment's necessity for specific public safety or emergency purposes. The bill also mandates increased accountability for all transferred property, prohibits agencies from taking ownership, and requires the return of equipment if an agency is involved in widespread civil liberties abuses using that property.