Bill · H.R. 198· House(119-HR-198)
SERVE Our Communities Act
- Introduced
- 1/3/2025
- Last activity
- 1/3/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Claudia Tenney
- Cosponsors
- - 6 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "SERVE Our Communities Act," authorizes grants for States and local government units. These grants are intended for those taking efforts to stop enabling repeat violence. To be eligible, a jurisdiction must allow courts or magistrates to consider community danger when setting bail or pretrial release conditions. Additionally, they must have taken steps in the previous year to prevent repeat violent offenses. These steps can include hiring more law enforcement and prosecutors or running public education programs. The bill authorizes $10,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2031.
Yes
Does this change how police departments operate?+4
The bill provides funding to improve community-police relations and expand law enforcement staffing.
Is this likely to create jobs?+3
The bill encourages jurisdictions to expand efforts to hire and retain law enforcement officers and prosecutorial staff.
Does this give the federal government more power?+2
The bill empowers the Attorney General to administer grants tied to specific state legislative and judicial requirements.
The opposite· 3 of 5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?-2
The emphasis on stricter bail conditions may negatively impact low-income individuals who rely on pretrial release.
Would Black Americans be better off under this?-2
The potential for more restrictive bail conditions may lead to increased incarceration rates for Black Americans.
Does this shorten or soften prison sentences?-2
The bill requires jurisdictions to allow courts to consider community danger when setting bail or pretrial release conditions.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Grant Funding for Public Safety: The bill authorizes the Attorney General to provide grants to States and local governments to help meet specific purposes under the Second Chance Act of 2007 (Section 2(a) and Section 2(c)).
-
Support for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors: Eligible jurisdictions may have expanded their efforts to hire and retain law enforcement officers and prosecutorial staff (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
-
Community Relations Improvements: Jurisdictions can utilize public education programs designed to combat anti-police sentiment and improve community-police relations (Section 2(b)(2)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Changes to Bail and Release Conditions: To qualify for funds, a jurisdiction must allow a State court or magistrate to consider the danger an individual poses to the community when determining bail or pretrial release conditions (Section 2(b)(1)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For African Americans-2Good For Low Income Households-2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3Reduces Government Spending-1
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Policing Reform+4Improves Criminal Sentencing Reform-2Improves Racial Equity-1
- 4/7/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/3/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Andrew GarbarinoRepublican · New York
Nick LaLotaRepublican · New York
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Nicholas LangworthyRepublican · New York
Nicole MalliotakisRepublican · New York
Elise StefanikRepublican · New York