Policing and crime

Pathways to Policing Act

This bill authorizes the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice to award grants to states, local governments, and law enforcement agencies to support recruitment of law enforcement officers. In particular, these grants may be used for (1) marketing and recruitment campaigns to encourage candidates to seek careers in law enforcement; and (2) developing, operating, or expanding Pathways to Policing programs (e.g., programs that facilitate entry into full-time law enforcement positions for certain candidates).

Silencers Help Us Save Hearing Act or the SHUSH Act

This bill removes silencers from regulation under federal firearms laws.

Specifically, it removes silencers from the list of firearms subject to regulation (i.e., registration and licensing requirements) under the National Firearms Act (NFA). Additionally, it excludes a muffler or silencer from the list of firearms subject to regulation (e.g., background check requirements) under the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA).

Additionally, the bill does the following:

• preempts state or local laws that tax or regulate firearm silencers,

• specifies that a person who lawfully acquires or possesses a silencer under provisions of the GCA meets the registration and licensing requirements of the NFA,

• eliminates mandatory minimum prison terms for a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense in which a defendant uses or carries a firearm equipped with a silencer or muffler, and

• permits active and retired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed silencer.

Finally, the bill excludes firearm mufflers and silencers from regulation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. (Current law generally excludes firearms from regulation by the commission.)

Police Officers Protecting Children Act

This bill specifies that certain active and retired law enforcement officers who are authorized to carry concealed firearms are not subject to the federal prohibition on possessing (or discharging) a firearm in a school zone.

Stop Enabling Repeat Violence and Endangering Our Communities Act or the SERVE Our Communities Act

This bill authorizes the Bureau of Justice Assistance to make grants to states and local governments for mentoring, transitional services, and training to help offenders successfully reintegrate back into the community after incarceration. To be eligible for a grant, a state or local government must take steps to prevent repeat offenses by violent offenders and allow a state court or magistrate to consider the danger an individual poses to the community when determining bail or pretrial release conditions.

Strong Communities Act of 2025

This bill allows funds under the Community Oriented Policing Services grant program to be used to make competitive grants for local law enforcement agencies to provide training to officers and recruits who agree to serve in law enforcement agencies in their communities.

Project Safe Neighborhoods Reauthorization Act of 2025

This bill reauthorizes through FY2030 the Project Safe Neighborhoods grant program within the Department of Justice.

The bill also allows funds under the program to be used for

• hiring crime analysts to assist with violent crime reduction efforts;

• the cost of overtime for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and law enforcement assistants who assist with the program;

• purchasing, implementing, and using technology to assist with violent crime reduction efforts; and

• supporting multijurisdictional task forces.

National Police Misuse of Force Investigation Board Act of 2025

This bill establishes the National Police Misuse of Force Investigation Board as an independent federal entity.

Among other duties, the board must investigate deaths that occur in police custody, officer-involved shootings, and uses of force that result in severe bodily injury in police custody. The board must also report periodically to Congress, federal entities, and state and local governments on recommendations to reduce incidents of misuse of force by law enforcement.

The bill requires a state or local government that receives funding under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program to (1) allow findings and recommendations of the board to be admissible in court, and (2) report on actions taken to address the recommendations of the board. The Department of Justice may reduce allocations to states and local governments that fail to comply with these requirements.

Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to award grants for state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies to hire retired law enforcement personnel to perform civilian law enforcement tasks on behalf of the agency and to train civilian employees in the performance of such tasks.

Under the bill, the term civilian law enforcement task includes assisting with certain investigations, reviewing camera footage, conducting crime scene analysis, and conducting forensic analysis.

Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act of 2026

This bill addresses issues related to state and local government cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts, including by prohibiting limitations on cooperation, revising detainer authority, and restricting funding for certain jurisdictions.

Federal, state, and local government entities, including personnel, must be allowed to (1) comply with or enforce immigration laws or cooperate with immigration enforcement efforts, or (2) inquire about an individual's immigration status. Currently, such government entities must be allowed to share immigration-related information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

DHS must issue a detainer for individuals arrested for any criminal or motor vehicle offense if DHS has probable cause that they are inadmissible or deportable.

Jurisdictions not in compliance with this bill, as determined by DHS, are ineligible for certain funding for law enforcement or immigration. This funding must be reallocated to jurisdictions that are in compliance.

The bill also creates a private right of action for victims of certain crimes to bring against a state or local government that, for example, released the individual who was convicted of the crime despite a detainer.

The bill provides federal immunity for officials and entities in compliance with the bill and removal to federal court for related prosecutions.

DHS may decline transfer of an individual in its custody if the requesting jurisdiction is not in compliance with this bill. DHS is prohibited from transferring an individual with a final order of removal.

Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act

This bill requires the Department of Justice to report on (1) targeted attacks on law enforcement officers, (2) the feasibility of incorporating such attacks into existing crime reporting systems, and (3) the mental health resources that are available to law enforcement officers.

Deterring External Threats and Ensuring Robust Responses to Egregious and Nefarious Criminal Endeavors Act or the DETERRENCE Act

This bill establishes sentencing enhancements for various federal criminal offenses if the offenses are directed by or coordinated with a foreign government.

Veterans Border Patrol Training Act

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collaborate with the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a five-year interdepartmental pilot program, under which DHS must use the DOD SkillBridge Program to train and hire transitioning servicemembers as border patrol agents for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

No Federal Funds for Cashless Bail Act

This bill prohibits the receipt of funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program by a state or local government that has in effect a law or policy that substantially limits cash bail for individuals who are charged with certain criminal offenses that pose a clear threat to public safety and order.

Under the bill, the criminal offenses that pose a threat to public safety and order include criminal offenses involving a violent or sexual act (e.g., burglary, murder, or rape) and offenses that promote public disorder (e.g., looting or vandalism).

Tribal Police Department Parity Act

This bill treats tribal law enforcement agencies in the same manner as federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies for purposes of accessing firearms.

The National Firearms Act (NFA) generally imposes a tax on the transfer of an NFA firearm; however, specified governmental entities (e.g., federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies) are exempt from this transfer tax. This bill extends this exemption to Indian tribes (and consequently, to tribal law enforcement agencies).

The Gun Control Act (GCA) generally prohibits the interstate shipment of firearms to unlicensed persons, but exempts specified governmental entities from this prohibition. This bill makes Indian tribes (and consequently, tribal law enforcement agencies) eligible to receive firearms interstate.

The GCA also prohibits the transfer or possession of machine guns manufactured after 1986, but exempts specified governmental entities from this prohibition. This bill makes Indian tribes (and consequently, tribal law enforcement agencies) eligible to transfer or possess these machine guns.