COPS Reauthorization Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8750
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-12: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-22T08:08:00Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8750: COPS Reauthorization Act of 2026
Purpose
This bill reauthorizes funding for the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program (a federal program that provides grants to law enforcement agencies for community-oriented policing initiatives) and formally establishes the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) within the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Key Provisions
- Funding Reauthorization: Allocates $1,047,119,000 annually for the COPS ON THE BEAT grants for fiscal years 2026 through 2031.
- Establishment of COPS Office:
- Creates a separate and distinct office within the DOJ, under the Attorney General's authority.
- Headed by a Director appointed by the President, who reports directly to the Attorney General.
- The Director has final authority over all grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts issued by the office.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 1001(a)(11)(A) of Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10261(a)(11)(A)) by extending grant funding authorization from fiscal years 2006–2009 to 2026–2031 at the same funding level.
- Adds a new Part PP to Title I of the same Act, codifying the COPS Office as an independent entity (previously operated but not explicitly structured this way in statute).
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Provides stable, long-term funding for DOJ's community policing efforts; strengthens administrative independence of the COPS Office, potentially improving grant management efficiency.
- Citizens and Communities: Supports hiring more community police officers, problem-solving partnerships, and technology upgrades in local departments, aiming to enhance public safety and trust in policing.
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Justice (DOJ) and Attorney General: Gain formalized structure for the COPS Office.
- Local and State Law Enforcement Agencies: Primary recipients of grants for hiring officers and implementing community policing.
- Communities: Benefit from sustained policing programs focused on crime prevention and community engagement.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Codifies an existing program into statute, reducing reliance on annual appropriations and providing multi-year certainty; no challenges to constitutional authority (falls under Congress's spending power).
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by Reps. Harder, Rutherford, and Whitesides); extends a program with broad support for law enforcement without increasing funding levels, potentially aiding passage in budget-constrained environments.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-12: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-12: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- COPS Reauthorization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-12 — PDF (2 pages)