United StatesMonitor Accountability Act
What it does
This bill requires the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to establish conditions on the appointment of monitors to oversee state and local governmental entities. A monitor is an independent official appointed to oversee corrective reforms as part of a civil settlement agreement or consent decree, such as to remedy a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing.
More detail
Among the conditions, this bill requires notice and an opportunity for public comment prior to the appointment of a monitor, limits an individual to one monitor appointment at a time, sets a five-year term limit for monitors, and requires a public accounting of the fees charged and services provided by the monitor. It also caps fees and explicitly authorizes the use of pro bono services.
In 2021, the Department of Justice began implementing a set of principles and specific recommendations regarding the use of monitors in civil settlement agreements and consent decrees involving state and local governmental entities, including recommendations relating to term limits, capping fees, and public accountability.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 18Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.Latest
- May 14Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1275. (consideration: CR H3480-3486)
- Vote recorded On Passage. Result: Passed.House
- Vote recorded On Motion to Recommit. Result: Failed.House
- May 14Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5625, H.R. 6260, H.R. 8365, H. Con. Res. 96 and H.R. 8469. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 5625, H.R. 6260, H.R. 8365, and H.Con.Res. 96 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8469 under a structured rule. The resolution makes in order one motion to recommit on each bill.
- May 14DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8365.
- May 14The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- May 14Mr. Boyle (PA) moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H3486)
- May 14The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
- May 14POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 8365, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Boyle (PA) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- May 14Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3507-3509)
- May 14On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 210 - 213 (Roll no. 172).
- May 14Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 219 - 204 (Roll no. 173). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3480)Passed House
- May 14Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- May 12Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1275 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5625, H.R. 6260, H.R. 8365, H. Con. Res. 96 and H.R. 8469. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 5625, H.R. 6260, H.R. 8365, and H.Con.Res. 96 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8469 under a structured rule. The resolution makes in order one motion to recommit on each bill.
- May 4Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-635.
- May 4Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 551.
- Apr 22Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Apr 22Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 13 - 11.
- Apr 20Introduced in House
- Apr 20Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.Introduced