Stop Gang Violence Act

119th Congress Introduced by Clay Fuller and 6 co-sponsors

The bill gives priority Byrne-JAG grant consideration to jurisdictions that report suspected gang-related offenses to the FBI/National Gang Intelligence Center.

Introduced in House

Stop Gang Violence Act (H.R. 8856) — Summary

Purpose and intent

The bill, introduced in the 119th Congress, is titled the Stop Gang Violence Act.

Its primary aim is to give priority consideration to units of local government that provide gang affiliation information in reports to federal authorities, specifically for Byrne-JAG grant purposes and related activities.

In short, jurisdictions that report gang affiliation data to the FBI (and the National Gang Intelligence Center) would receive favored treatment in grant considerations.

Key provisions and changes

Amendments to reporting requirements:

Section 505(f) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10156(f)) is amended.
The amendment adds language to recognize jurisdictions that include, as part of their reporting to the FBI (including the National Gang Intelligence Center), information on offenses that are suspected to be gang-related.

Data reporting scope:

The bill explicitly expands the reporting to include offenses that are suspected to be gang-related, not only those confirmed as gang offenses.

Grant implications:

By altering the reporting criterion, jurisdictions that supply information on suspected gang-related offenses would be eligible for priority consideration in Byrne-JAG grant programs and related funding opportunities.

Who or what would be affected

Local governmental units and law enforcement agencies that participate in reporting to the FBI (and the National Gang Intelligence Center) about gang activity.

Jurisdictions that provide information on suspected gang-related offenses, in addition to confirmed gang offenses, would be included for priority grant consideration under Byrne-JAG.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Introduced in the House on May 15, 2026.

Action path: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary (as of the date of introduction).

The bill sets forth an amendment to existing statute; it does not specify a new funding level or a final rulemaking timeline within the text provided. Would proceed through committee review, potential floor action, and negotiation with the Senate if advanced.

Practical impact and considerations

Enhanced incentives for jurisdictions to report suspected gang-related offenses to federal authorities.

Potentially improves access to Byrne-JAG (Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant) funding for jurisdictions that contribute more comprehensive gang-related information.

The change could affect how data is categorized and reported by local agencies, as well as how grant decisions weigh local reporting practices.

It remains to be seen how federal agencies implement and evaluate the expanded reporting criterion in grant award processes and whether accompanying guidance or performance metrics would be issued.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to how Byrne-JAG grants are typically awarded and discuss potential implementation questions for the reporting expansion.