Hold Vandals Accountable Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9575
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-07-02: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-06T13:38:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Hold Vandals Accountable Act of 2026 (H.R. 9575)
Purpose
This legislation aims to strengthen penalties for damage or attempted damage to United States government property by lowering the monetary threshold that triggers more serious criminal charges.
Key Provisions
- The bill amends Section 1361 of Title 18 of the United States Code.
- It replaces the existing "$1,000" damage amount with "$500" in all relevant places within the section.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law, damage or attempted damage to U.S. property reaching or exceeding $1,000 qualifies for higher-level penalties.
- The change reduces this threshold to $500, making offenses involving smaller amounts subject to the stricter rules previously reserved for larger damages.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies may see increased enforcement actions and prosecutions for lower-value incidents of property damage.
- Citizens could face elevated legal consequences for acts of vandalism that previously fell below the higher threshold.
- No direct effects on international relations are outlined in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies responsible for investigating property damage.
- Individuals accused of damaging or attempting to damage U.S. government property.
- Federal courts handling related criminal cases.
- Government entities owning or managing affected property.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The amendment alters the classification of criminal offenses under federal law, potentially shifting more cases into categories with enhanced penalties.
- As a straightforward change to an existing criminal statute, it raises no immediate constitutional concerns within the bill text itself.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-07-02: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-07-02: Introduced in House
- 2026-07-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Hold Vandals Accountable Act of 2026 — issued 2026-07-02 — PDF (1 pages)