Congress Moves Series of Police Bills Covering Bail, Background Checks, and Officer Safety
Lawmakers advanced and introduced a series of bills affecting law enforcement during National Police Week.
The following bills are among those that passed House and were referred to the Senate:
The NICS Data Reporting Act of 2025 (H.R. 2267) would improve the reporting and submission of relevant records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
The Criminal History Access Act of 2026 (H.R. 8352) would improve access to criminal history information for law enforcement agencies and authorized entities to support hiring, investigations, and public safety operations.
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (CORCA) (H.R. 2853) would strengthen coordination between federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to address organized retail crime and cargo theft.
The Cashless Bail Reporting Act (H.R. 5625) would require the Department of Justice (DOJ) to publicly identify jurisdictions allowing individuals charged with violent or sexual offenses to be released before trial without cash bail.
Senate Actions
The Senate Judiciary Committee also passed a string of bills and sent them to the full Senate for consideration.
Those include the following:
Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026 (S. 3897) would speed up the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program process for injured officers and surviving families, reducing the current claims backlog.
Carla Walker Act (S. 1890) would dedicate federal grant funds to support forensic DNA analysis to help solve cold cases.
Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act of 2025 (S.825) would direct DOJ to develop treatment and support programs for first responders experiencing PTSD and trauma-related mental health challenges.
Tribal Warrant Fairness Act (S.3041) would expand collaboration between tribal law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Marshals Service to support execution of tribal criminal warrants and improve public safety coordination.
Federal Halo Act
Also introduced in the House was the Federal Halo Act (H.R. 8796).
The bill would create a safety buffer to better protect federal law enforcement officers from threats, harassment, and interference while carrying out their duties. It makes it illegal for anyone who has been told to stay away to knowingly come within 15 feet of a federal law enforcement officer while on duty, if their intent is to interfere or obstruct the officer’s work.
The legislation was introduced by Rep Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and has support from law enforcement organizations.
“This protection is especially critical for the U.S. Park Police, whose officers are charged every day with protecting public safety while also safeguarding the freedom of expression at our nation’s most iconic landmarks and public spaces," said Kenneth Spencer, chief of staff of the U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police.
The legislation was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
