Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Police Training and Independent Review Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 10 Democratic cosponsors · See all 10 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Police Training and Independent Review Act of 2026. It gives the Attorney General the authority to provide grants to States that meet specific police training and independent prosecution requirements. States must require law enforcement officers and academy enrollees to complete training on fair and impartial policing. This training includes anti-bias instruction, cultural diversity, crisis intervention, and de-escalation tactics. Additionally, to be eligible for these grants, States must enact and have in effect a statute requiring independent investigation and prosecution of law enforcement use of deadly force. The Department of Justice Inspector General will conduct audits of grant-receiving States to ensure compliance.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +7
Does this change how police departments operate?
The legislation establishes rigorous training requirements and mandates independent investigation and prosecution standards for officer-involved use of deadly force.
- Scored +6
Would Black Americans be better off under this?
Anti-bias training and independent reviews of deadly force help protect minority communities from biased policing practices.
- Scored +6
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?
Implementing anti-bias training and independent investigations helps address civil rights protections for Hispanic Americans.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill places federal conditions and audit requirements on states seeking to receive law enforcement grant funding.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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States can receive grants if they require law enforcement officers and academy enrollees to complete training on fair and impartial policing, which covers anti-bias, cultural diversity, crisis intervention, and de-escalation tactics as described in Section 3062(a)(1). This is positive because it aims to improve how police officers interact with the public, including individuals with mental illness or disabilities.
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Officers and academy enrollees are required to complete at least 8 hours of initial training and at least 4 hours of training every year thereafter, and must demonstrate proficiency through scenario-based tests under Section 3062(a)(1)(D) and Section 3062(a)(2). This ensures that officers are regularly tested and keep their skills sharp in real-world scenarios.
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States must enact statutes requiring independent investigations and prosecutions when a law enforcement officer's use of deadly force results in death or injury, utilizing methods like civilian review boards, the State attorney general, special prosecutors, or independent agencies under Section 3063 and Section 3064(2) and (3). This is a positive step for accountability when dealing with officer-involved use of deadly force.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- If a State fails to comply with the training requirements by the compliance date, it will lose eligibility for a grant during the next fiscal year as outlined in Section 3062(b)(3). This could negatively impact States and local communities by withholding federal grant funding if administrative compliance deadlines are missed.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Anti-bias training and independent reviews of deadly force help protect minority communities from biased policing practices. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Implementing anti-bias training and independent investigations helps address civil rights protections for Hispanic Americans. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill specifically mandates police training regarding interactions with individuals with mental illnesses or physical and developmental disabilities. Would children be better off under this? — Improving police de-escalation and crisis intervention training benefits children and families during encounters with law enforcement.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this change how police departments operate? — The legislation establishes rigorous training requirements and mandates independent investigation and prosecution standards for officer-involved use of deadly force. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill mandates anti-bias training and independent prosecution standards for police use of deadly force, which helps address racial disparities in law enforcement encounters.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Mandating independent prosecution and investigation of law enforcement use of deadly force strengthens due process and accountability. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires independent investigation and reporting mechanisms when law enforcement officers use deadly force. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill conditions federal grant funding on states enacting specific police training laws and independent prosecution statutes. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill places federal conditions and audit requirements on states seeking to receive law enforcement grant funding.
- 9/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 10 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Maria CantwellDemocrat · Washington
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont