Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act
Redirects federal support from school police to student services and grants for local agencies transitioning away from campus officers.
In the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee since Sept. 23, 2026, 15 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 23, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Schools differ over whether campus safety is best handled by police or by student-support staff. The bill would end federal funding for police in schools and create grants to help local educational agencies shift to mental health, trauma-informed, and other school services. Grant recipients would have to end campus police arrangements and report publicly on the program.
- 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.
- End federal funding for school police
Federal funds could not be used to hire, maintain, or train covered law enforcement officers assigned to or working with schools or Head Start programs. The bill would also bar recipients of COPS grants from using those grants for covered officers.
- Fund school transitions away from police
The Education Department would award competitive grants to local educational agencies to replace school police with mental health and trauma-informed services and to change safety and discipline policies. Grant amounts would be based on student enrollment, and the bill would authorize $5,000,000,000 to carry out the program.
- Require police-free campuses for grant recipients
An agency seeking a grant would have to end school-campus police arrangements at least 30 days before receiving funds and agree not to create a new law enforcement contract or school police department during the grant. Grant money could not pay for punitive discipline, school surveillance equipment or programs, or arming school staff.
- Support student services and training
Grant recipients would have to use funds for specified personnel, including counselors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, credible messengers, and trauma-informed staff. They could also fund services such as restorative justice and positive behavioral supports, along with staff training.
- Publish yearly grant reports
Grant recipients would report publicly each year on how they used the funds and on student arrests and referrals to law enforcement, including demographic information where disclosure would not violate privacy laws. Reports would also cover school surveillance equipment and related policies.
The bill cites research that it says has not found evidence that police on school campuses make schools safer, and that links their presence to more student arrests. It also points to disparities in school discipline and to shortages of counselors, social workers, nurses, and psychologists as reasons to shift federal support toward student services.
The practical stakes are how schools use federal support to address safety, student behavior, and mental health needs—and whether those resources support police presence or other school services.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 23, 2026SENATESEP 23, 2026By Sen. Murphy with 4 original cosponsorsReferred to Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 23, 2026HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, & PENSIONS NOWSEP 23, 2026In committee for 15 daysNo hearing yet
- 15 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE 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
- SEP 232026SEP 23, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- SEP 232026SEP 23, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 15, this bill is already older than 4% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
In committee · Judiciary and Education and Workforce · 12 cosponsors · introduced by Ayanna Pressley.
H.R. 2739 is the same bill introduced in the House. Companion bills let both chambers work on one idea at once; when one passes, the other chamber often takes up the version that already passed.
OPEN H.R. 2739 →Where your members stand on it
A coalition from 4 states
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Murphy’s record: sponsored 51 bills this Congress. 0 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Cory A. BookerD-NJORIGINAL
- Ed MarkeyD-MAORIGINAL
- Jeff MerkleyD-ORORIGINAL
- Chris Van HollenD-MDORIGINAL
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