Count the Crimes to Cut Act

Bill Number: H.R. 2159
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Status: Passed House
Latest Action: 2026-04-14: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 370.
Last Updated: 2026-04-16T03:38:23Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Count the Crimes to Cut Act" (H.R. 2159) requires the U.S. Attorney General and heads of specific federal agencies to compile and report detailed information on all federal criminal offenses—both those defined in statutes (laws passed by Congress) and regulations (rules made by agencies)—to promote transparency about federal crimes.

Key Provisions

Definitions:
Criminal statutory offense: A crime defined directly in a federal law.
Criminal regulatory offense: A violation of a federal agency rule punishable by criminal penalties.
Report on Statutory Offenses (due within 1 year of enactment):
Attorney General submits to Senate and House Judiciary Committees: a complete list of all such offenses, including their elements (specific facts needed to prove the crime), potential penalties, number of Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutions over the prior 15 years, and mens rea (the mental state required, e.g., intent or knowledge).
Report on Regulatory Offenses (due within 1 year of enactment):
Heads of 30+ specified agencies (e.g., Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services; EPA; SEC; FCC) submit similar reports on offenses enforceable by their agency, including penalties, referrals to DOJ for prosecution over the prior 15 years, and mens rea.
Public Indexes (due within 2 years of enactment):
DOJ creates a free, public online index of all statutory offenses.
Each listed agency creates a similar index for its regulatory offenses on its website.
No new funding is required or authorized for these tasks.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Introduces first-ever comprehensive federal requirement to catalog, report, and publicly index all federal criminal offenses (statutory and regulatory).
No changes to crimes, penalties, or enforcement; solely adds reporting and transparency mandates.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: DOJ and listed agencies must invest time/resources in data compilation and website updates, potentially revealing under-enforced or overly numerous offenses.
Citizens and Businesses: Easier public access to what constitutes a federal crime, aiding compliance and awareness; may highlight regulatory burdens.
Congress: Provides data for oversight, potential reforms (e.g., reducing offenses), or debates on overcriminalization.
No direct impact on international relations.

Main Stakeholders

Congress: Judiciary Committees receive reports.
Department of Justice: Leads on statutory offenses.
Federal Agencies: 30+ listed entities (e.g., EPA, SEC, HHS, FCC) handle regulatory offenses.
Public: Gains free access to offense indexes.
Businesses/Individuals: Potentially affected by clearer visibility of enforceable crimes.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Enhances rule-of-law transparency without creating new crimes or altering penalties; mens rea focus may spotlight offenses lacking intent requirements (public welfare crimes).
Constitutional: Neutral; aligns with congressional oversight powers (e.g., Article I) and no appropriation needs avoid spending clause issues.
Political: Could fuel debates on federal overreach or "criminalization creep" by quantifying thousands of offenses, aiding reform efforts without mandating cuts.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21]

Cosponsors (4)

Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]

Recent Actions

2026-04-14: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 370.
2026-04-14: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
2026-04-14: Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley without amendment. Without written report.
2026-03-26: Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
2025-12-02: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
2025-12-01: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2025-12-01: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4923)
2025-12-01: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4923)
2025-12-01: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2159.
2025-12-01: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4923-4926)
2025-12-01: Mr. Roy moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2025-10-17: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 298.
2025-10-17: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-346.
2025-10-17: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-346.
2025-06-10: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.

Bill Versions

Count the Crimes to Cut Act — issued 2025-12-01 — PDF (8 pages)
Count the Crimes to Cut Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-14 — PDF (5 pages)
Count the Crimes to Cut Act — issued 2025-12-02 — PDF (6 pages)
Count the Crimes to Cut Act — issued 2025-10-17 — PDF (8 pages)
Count the Crimes to Cut Act — issued 2026-04-14 — PDF (6 pages)