Training Rural Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8675
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-07: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-21T14:15:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Training Rural Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2026 (H.R. 8675)
Purpose
To authorize the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grant funding to qualified nonprofit organizations, enabling them to deliver free training to law enforcement officers in small and rural communities that often lack resources to access federal funding.
Key Provisions
- Findings: Recognizes that most U.S. local police departments and sheriff's offices are small (e.g., nearly half have fewer than 10 officers, 80% fewer than 50), and federal grants are too complex for them to pursue due to limited staff and expertise.
- Definitions:
- Accredited nonprofit organization: A nonprofit deemed by the Attorney General to have proven experience and a strong record in delivering law enforcement training.
- Law enforcement training grant: Funding under the existing Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 specifically for training purposes.
- Eligibility and Requirements:
- Accredited nonprofits can receive these grants to train state and local agencies.
- Training must align with DOJ priorities, target agencies with fewer than 50 sworn officers, and be provided at no cost to the receiving agency.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands eligibility for law enforcement training grants under the 1968 Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to include accredited nonprofits, bypassing direct applications by small agencies and simplifying access.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: DOJ gains a streamlined way to fund training via nonprofits; small rural law enforcement agencies receive free, relevant training without navigating complex grant processes.
- Citizens: Improves officer skills in underserved rural and small communities, potentially enhancing public safety and response capabilities.
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- DOJ and Attorney General: Responsible for determining nonprofit accreditation and awarding grants.
- Accredited nonprofits: Eligible recipients to deliver training.
- Small and rural law enforcement agencies (under 50 officers): Primary beneficiaries of free training.
- Residents of rural/small communities: Indirectly benefit from better-trained officers.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on existing federal grant authority without creating new programs; relies on Attorney General's discretion for nonprofit accreditation, which could invite oversight for fairness.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; supports federalism by aiding state/local law enforcement.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (Republican and Democratic cosponsors) signals broad support for rural policing needs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-07: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-07: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-07: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Training Rural Law Enforcement Officers Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-07 — PDF (4 pages)