No Bailouts for Cashless Bail Jurisdictions Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8821
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-15T18:42:09Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to restrict access to federal funds for jurisdictions that substantially eliminate cash bail for certain criminal offenses.
Key Provisions
- Federal funds are prohibited for any jurisdiction the Attorney General determines has substantially eliminated cash bail as a condition of pretrial release for covered offenses.
- The Attorney General must issue determinations within 30 days of enactment and at least quarterly thereafter, with explanations made publicly available.
- Jurisdictions may regain eligibility for funds either 180 days after the initial determination or on the date the Attorney General confirms the policy has ended.
- Definitions clarify terms such as cash bail (secured monetary conditions like cash payments or bonds), covered offenses (including crimes of violence, sex offenses, burglary, vandalism, looting, and other offenses deemed appropriate by the Attorney General), and related terms drawn from existing federal statutes.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill creates a new funding restriction tied to local pretrial release policies, expanding federal oversight into state and local criminal justice practices through conditions on federal grants.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Increases administrative duties for the Department of Justice in making and publishing quarterly determinations; affects distribution of federal funds to state and local entities.
- Citizens: May influence pretrial detention practices in affected jurisdictions, potentially altering release conditions for defendants charged with covered offenses.
- International relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State, local, and tribal jurisdictions receiving federal funds.
- The Department of Justice and Attorney General’s office.
- Local courts, law enforcement agencies, and pretrial services.
- Individuals facing criminal charges in jurisdictions with cashless bail policies.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure conditions federal spending on compliance with specific state and local bail policies, raising questions about the scope of Congress’s authority under the Spending Clause to influence criminal justice at the subnational level. It also establishes a mechanism for ongoing federal review of local practices without altering underlying state criminal laws.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-05-14: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Bailouts for Cashless Bail Jurisdictions Act — issued 2026-05-14 — PDF (4 pages)