Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8932
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T13:00:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation establishes the United States Commission on Hate Crimes to study factors contributing to hate crimes, evaluate law enforcement practices, address underreporting, and recommend improvements in prevention and data collection. It also requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit of federal hate crime data.
Key Provisions
- Creates a 10-member Commission with appointments split between congressional leaders and the Attorney General; membership is limited to no more than five from law enforcement and five from the civil rights community, excluding elected officials.
- Directs the Commission to investigate contributors to hate crimes (including social media), law enforcement policies for reduction, underreporting effects, barriers to National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) participation, successful prevention efforts, and online incidents.
- Requires the Commission to submit a report to Congress and the President within one year, including recommendations for federal agency actions on reporting and bias prevention.
- Mandates a GAO audit of FBI hate crime data collection methods, accuracy comparisons with other sources (such as civil rights organizations and the National Crime Victimization Survey), and recommendations for improvements, including automated anomaly detection.
- The Commission terminates 90 days after report submission.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill introduces no direct amendments to existing statutes but creates a new temporary federal commission and imposes a one-time GAO audit requirement on the FBI’s hate crime data processes under the National Incident-Based Reporting System.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Requires FBI and other federal entities to provide data to the Commission; local, state, and tribal law enforcement may face increased scrutiny or support for improved NIBRS reporting.
- Citizens: Aims to enhance accuracy of hate crime statistics and support prevention measures affecting victims and communities.
- International relations: No provisions address international matters.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies (FBI, DOJ, GAO).
- State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
- Civil rights and nonprofit organizations.
- Victims and communities impacted by bias-motivated incidents.
- Congress and the executive branch.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill operates within Congress’s authority to establish advisory commissions and direct audits of federal programs. It emphasizes improved data reliability without altering criminal penalties or creating new enforcement mechanisms.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-20: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-20 — PDF (12 pages)