Monitor Accountability Act

Summary

Monitor Accountability Act 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. 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. 

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 20 April 2026

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 20 April 2026

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 20 April 2026

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 22 April 2026

   Vote

   Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 13 - 11.

   Source: Committee

5. 22 April 2026

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

   Source: Committee

6. 4 May 2026

   Calendars

   Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 551.

   Source: Calendars

7. 4 May 2026

   Reported

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-635.

   Source: Committee

8. 4 May 2026

   Reported

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-635.

   Source: Committee

9. 12 May 2026

   Reported

   Rules 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.

   Source: Floor

10. 14 May 2026

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

11. 14 May 2026

    Vote

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 219 - 204 (Roll no. 173). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3480)

    Source: Floor

12. 14 May 2026

    Vote

    Passed/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)

    Source: Floor

13. 14 May 2026

    Vote

    On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 210 - 213 (Roll no. 172).

    Source: Floor

14. 14 May 2026

    Floor

    The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.

    Source: Floor

15. 14 May 2026

    Floor

    Mr. Boyle (PA) moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H3486)

    Source: Floor

16. 14 May 2026

    Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

    Source: Floor

17. 14 May 2026

    Floor

    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.

    Source: Floor

18. 14 May 2026

    Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1275. (consideration: CR H3480-3486)

    Source: Floor

19. 18 May 2026

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

5 official files

• Referred in Senate

  Referred in Senate · EN · 18 May 2026

  DownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed in House

  Engrossed in House · EN · 14 May 2026

  DownloadOpen at official source

• Reported in House

  Reported in House · EN · 4 May 2026

  DownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to House

  summary · EN · 4 May 2026

  Open at official source

• Introduced in House

  Introduced in House · EN · 20 April 2026

  DownloadOpen at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5] · R · Sponsor
• Russell Fry · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] · R · Sponsor
• · ssju00 · Standing
• · hsju00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5625) to direct the Attorney General to make publicly available a list of each State and unit of local government that permits cashless bail, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6260) to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit fraud in connection with posting bail; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8365) to provide for conditions on the appointment of monitors by courts, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 96) expressing support for law enforcement officers; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8469) making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes.