Police Training and Independent Review Act of 2026
Offers grants to States that require recurring fair-policing training and independent prosecution of certain deadly-force cases.
In the House Judiciary Committee since Oct. 1, 2026, 7 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROOCT 1, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Police training and the handling of cases involving officers’ use of deadly force are matters of public safety and accountability. The bill would offer one-year grants to States that require recurring fair-policing training and have a law for independent prosecution of qualifying deadly-force cases. It also requires training verification and audits of some grant recipients.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Tie grants to training and independent review
The Attorney General could give a State a grant for one fiscal year only if the State meets the bill’s training requirements and has a law requiring independent investigation and prosecution of qualifying deadly-force cases.
- Require recurring fair-policing training
States would require law-enforcement officers and academy enrollees to complete training on bias, cultural diversity, interactions with people with disabilities or mental illness, crisis intervention, and de-escalation. The training would include scenarios and proficiency tests, with at least 8 hours initially and at least 4 hours each year afterward.
- Require independent review of deadly-force cases
A State would need a law requiring independent prosecution when an officer’s use of deadly force in the course of duty results in death or injury. The bill lists several ways to meet this requirement, including an independent prosecutor, a civilian review board, or a referral to a special prosecutor.
- Verify training and audit grant recipients
A State attorney general would verify that officers and academy enrollees meet the training requirements. The Justice Department Inspector General would audit an appropriate number of grant-receiving States each fiscal year.
The bill links federal grant eligibility to recurring training on bias, crisis response, and de-escalation, and to independent handling of certain cases involving deadly force. The practical stakes are whether States adopt these requirements and how they investigate and prosecute qualifying cases.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedOCT 1, 2026HOUSEOCT 1, 2026By Rep. CohenReferred to Judiciary
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeOCT 1, 2026JUDICIARY NOWOCT 1, 2026In committee for 7 daysNo hearing yet
- 7 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- OCT 12026OCT 1, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- OCT 12026OCT 1, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 7, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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