A Republican bill with 4 Republican cosponsors · See all 4 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 Officer John Barnes Act and was introduced in the Senate in February 2025. The main goal of the bill is to make sure that decisions about benefit eligibility happen within a set amount of time. It amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. Specifically, the legislation requires the Bureau to tell a claimant whether they are eligible for benefits not later than 270 calendar days after receiving their claim. This keeps our elected officials and government agencies accountable to the people by putting a hard deadline on their work.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill increases transparency by requiring the Bureau to provide timely notification of eligibility determinations.
- Scored +2
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Providing timely decisions on benefit claims helps low-income households manage their financial stability.
- Scored +2
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?
The bill creates a 270-day deadline for benefit eligibility determinations which helps individuals access required funds more predictably.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Faster decisions on claims: Section 2 requires the Bureau to make a benefit eligibility determination and inform the claimant within 270 calendar days of receiving a claim. This is a positive change because it prevents people from waiting indefinitely and holds the government accountable for timely service.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts found: Based strictly on the provided text, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that create negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups.
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 households on low incomes be better off under this? — Providing timely decisions on benefit claims helps low-income households manage their financial stability. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The mandate for timely benefit determinations provides administrative certainty to claimants regardless of location.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill increases transparency by requiring the Bureau to provide timely notification of eligibility determinations.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill creates a 270-day deadline for benefit eligibility determinations which helps individuals access required funds more predictably.
- 2/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
4 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.
Bill CassidyRepublican · Louisiana
Kevin CramerRepublican · North Dakota
James JusticeRepublican · West Virginia
James LankfordRepublican · Oklahoma