COPS Reauthorization Act of 2026

Overview

• Bill: H.R. 8750 (COPS Reauthorization Act of 2026)
• Session: 119th Congress, 2nd Session
• Introduced: May 12, 2026
• Primary purpose: Reauthorize the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program and establish a new office within the Department of Justice to oversee community policing efforts.

Main purpose and intent

• Reauthorize federal support for community policing through the COPS ON THE BEAT grant program, ensuring continued funding levels into the next several fiscal years.
• Create a distinct, standalone Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) within the Department of Justice, with a Director appointed by the President and reporting to the Attorney General.
• Place the COPS Office under explicit authority for managing all grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts related to community policing programs.

Key provisions and changes

1. Reauthorization of COPS ON THE BEAT grants

   • Amends Section 1001(a)(11)(A) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968.
   • Replaces the prior authorization level of “$1,047,119,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2009” with a new authorization of “$1,047,119,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031.”
   • This sets a fixed annual funding level for the COPS program through FY 2031, ensuring long-term budgetary stability for grant support to local law enforcement.

2. Creation of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office)

   • Establishes a new, separate office within the Department of Justice (DOJ) dedicated to community policing.
   • The COPS Office is headed by a Director, appointed by the President.
   • The Director reports to the Attorney General and has final authority over all grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts awarded by the Office.
   • Clarifies organizational structure to ensure the COPS Office operates as an autonomous unit within DOJ with centralized grant administration.

Who and what would be affected

• Local law enforcement and communities: The reauthorized COPS ON THE BEAT grants would continue to fund staffing, equipment, training, and related policing resources at the local level, supporting community policing initiatives.
• Department of Justice: Establishment of a new, separate COPS Office within DOJ, with its own director and grant authority, centralizing management of community policing programs and funding.
• Grant recipients and partners: Organizations and agencies receiving COPS grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts would interact with a dedicated COPS Office for funding and program administration.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Introduced in the House on May 12, 2026 and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
• If enacted, the reauthorization would apply to fiscal years 2026 through 2031 for the grant funding level, and the COPS Office would become a formal, separate office within DOJ with a presidentially appointed Director.
• No Senate text is provided here; passage would require alignment with the Senate and completion of the standard congressional process (committee consideration, floor votes, potential conference).

Summary in plain terms

HR 8750 aims to ensure continued federal support for local community policing through a reauthorized annual COPS ON THE BEAT grant level of $1,047,119,000 from FY 2026 through FY 2031. It also proposes creating a distinct COPS Office within the Department of Justice, led by a President-appointed Director who would have final say over all related grants and contracts. The overall effect is to stabilize funding for community policing efforts while formalizing organizational control and accountability within DOJ for these programs.