Bill · H.R. 7310· House(119-HR-7310)
Deadly Force Independent Review Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 2/2/2026
- Last activity
- 2/2/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Steve Cohen
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Deadly Force Independent Review Act of 2026 aims to create protocols for investigating when Federal law enforcement officers use deadly force. Under this bill, agencies must establish investigation protocols and share all collected evidence with State and local authorities. If an agency does not conduct the investigation, the Inspector General must perform an independent review to ensure thoroughness and compliance. The Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency will also create uniform governmentwide reporting methods and investigation guidelines. Additionally, the Council must submit quarterly reports to specific House and Senate committees and the Comptroller General. These reports will include detailed data regarding the incidents and the individuals involved.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this change how police departments operate?+7
The bill mandates investigation protocols, independent reviews by Inspectors General, and evidence sharing with state and local authorities.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+5
The bill requires the collection and reporting of race and ethnicity data for individuals targeted by deadly force to improve accountability.
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?+4
The bill protects the privacy of law enforcement officers and individuals involved by restricting the disclosure of personally identifiable information.
The opposite
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?-3
The bill explicitly prohibits the public release of identifying information and limits Freedom of Information Act requests regarding these incidents.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Accountability via Independent Oversight: According to Section 3(a), if an agency investigation is not conducted by the inspector general, that official must conduct an independent review to verify the investigation was thorough, followed protocols, and was supported by evidence. This ensures that findings of wrongdoing are reported to authorities for potential disciplinary action or prosecution.
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Transparency for Local Authorities: Section 2 requires that all evidence collected during a deadly force investigation must be made available to the appropriate State and local authorities.
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Standardized Investigation Procedures: Under Section 3(b), the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency will develop a uniform, Governmentwide methodology for reporting and guidelines for conducting investigations.
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Detailed Federal Oversight: Section 4(a) requires the Council of Inspectors General to submit quarterly reports to several House and Senate committees and the Comptroller General, providing descriptions of all instances of deadly force used by Federal law enforcement.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Privacy Restrictions on Information: According to Section 5, the name or identifying information of a law enforcement officer, the person targeted by deadly force, or any other individual involved cannot be released to the public.
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Limited Access to Data: Section 5(2) limits the disclosure of information to only those necessary to comply with the Act, disclosures to the specific person involved, or disclosures for litigation, meaning the general public is restricted from accessing this specific information.
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Restrictions on Freedom of Information Act Requests: Section 5(3) states that information subject to this Act is not subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, except for disclosures regarding a particular person to that person.
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+3Good For Asian Americans+3Good For Hispanic Americans+3Good For Native Americans+3Good For White Americans+3Good For Women+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Policing Reform+7Improves Racial Equity+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights+4Improves Government Transparency-3
- 2/2/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in House