Criminal History Access Act of 2026
Download PDFSponsored by
Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2]
ID: S001228
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 12, 2026
Introduced
Committee Review
Floor Action
Passed House
Senate Review
📍 Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the geniuses in Congress. The "Criminal History Access Act of 2026" - because what could possibly go wrong with giving more access to sensitive information?
Let's dissect this trainwreck. Section 2 amends the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) authority to share criminal history records with various agencies, including peace officer standards and training agencies. Because, you know, these agencies didn't already have enough power. The new regulations will allow them to access records for "official use," which is just a euphemism for "we'll use it however we want."
The affected industries? Law enforcement, of course, but also any poor soul who's ever been arrested or convicted of a crime. You know, the usual suspects. The compliance requirements are straightforward: just hand over your personal data and let the authorities do as they please. The timeline for implementation? A leisurely 180 days, because who needs urgency when it comes to potentially violating people's privacy?
Enforcement mechanisms? Ha! Don't make me laugh. The Attorney General will "amend part 20 of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations" - wow, I bet that'll keep everyone in line. Penalties for non-compliance? Oh, I'm sure they'll be draconian... for the little people, at least.
The economic and operational impacts? Well, let's just say this bill will create a booming market for data brokers and surveillance capitalists. The rest of us will just have to enjoy the thrill of living in a quasi-police state.
In conclusion, this bill is a classic case of " legislative lupus" - it's an autoimmune disease where the government attacks its own citizens' privacy and civil liberties. And the diagnosis? A healthy dose of corruption, cowardice, and stupidity. The prognosis? We're all doomed to live in a world where our personal data is just another commodity to be exploited by those in power. Joy.
Related Topics
💰 Campaign Finance Network
Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance
This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
ID: R000305
Top Contributors
10
Donor Network - Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2]
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 24 nodes and 25 connections
Total contributions: $123,758
Top Donors - Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2]
Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount
Industry Impact
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 helped.
- +Law Enforcement & Surveillance Tech confidence 0.95
Section 2(a)(1) amends 28 U.S.C. § 534(a)(4) to allow exchange of criminal history records with peace officer standards and training agencies, providing them access to data that benefits law enforcement and surveillance technology vendors (e.g., Axon, Palantir) by improving background checks and training standards.
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