H.R. 5625 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House May 14, 2026. Received May 18, 2026; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryDepartment of Justice tracks cashless bail policies
This bill requires the U.S. Department of Justice to publish a yearly list of state and local governments that allow people charged with serious crimes to be released before trial without paying cash bail. The list would cover crimes involving violence, sexual offenses, and crimes that disrupt public order like looting or vandalism.
How it affects you
This change doesn't directly affect most people's daily lives. It's mainly a reporting requirement that would give the federal government information about how different states and cities handle bail decisions for serious crimes. If you're involved in the criminal justice system as a defendant, attorney, or work in law enforcement, you might use this data to understand bail practices in different areas.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Apr 9, 2026)
Cashless Bail Reporting Act
This bill requires the Department of Justice to publish annually a list of state and local governments that permit individuals who are charged with certain criminal offenses that pose a clear threat to public safety and order to be released pending trial on personal recognizance or upon execution of an unsecured appearance bond.
Under the bill, the criminal offenses that pose a threat to public safety and order include criminal offenses involving a violent or sexual act (e.g., burglary, murder, or rape) and offenses that promote public disorder (e.g., looting or vandalism).
On August 25, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that required the Department of Justice to submit to the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security a list of state and local jurisdictions that have substantially eliminated cash bail as a potential condition for pretrial release for crimes that pose a clear threat to public safety and order, including offenses involving violent, sexual, or indecent acts, or burglary, looting, or vandalism.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 5625
AN ACT
Cashless Bail Reporting Act
Sponsor: Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC-8) · Introduced Sep 30, 2025 · Crime and Law Enforcement · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 18, 2026: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · May 14, 2026
Passage Passed 308–116
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 96 | 114 | 2 |
| Independents | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Republicans | 211 | 2 | 4 |
98 members voted against most of their party: 96 Democrats voted Yes and 2 Republicans voted No.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.