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H.R. 8365Passed House

Monitor Accountability Act

Introduced: Apr 20, 2026

Latest action date: May 18, 2026

Latest development

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

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Congress
119th Congress
Introduced
Apr 20, 2026
Recorded roll calls
2

Status detail: The full action history records passage in the House.

Plain-language overview

What this bill does

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. 

Civixly topics

What this legislation is about

Civixly topics make federal and state legislation comparable. They are derived from the official CRS policy area and legislative subjects.

Official CRS policy area

Law

View 5 official legislative subjects
Federal district courtsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesJudicial procedure and administrationLegal fees and court costs

Committee activity

Committees and subcommittees that received, reviewed, marked up, or reported this legislation.

houseStanding

Judiciary Committee

Official committee record ↗
  1. Referred To
  2. Markup By
  3. Reported By
  4. Unknown
  5. Unknown

Amendments

Proposed changes to this measure, with their latest official outcome or action from Congress.gov.

View amendments1 amendment
H.Amdt. 213houseAgreed toMay 14, 2026

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1275, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary, printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in Part A of House Report 119-648, is considered adopted.

Latest action: On agreeing to the Rules amendment (A001) Agreed to without objection.

Congress.gov ↗

Checked against Congress.gov Sep 17, 2026.

Action timeline

Newest action first. Action language comes from the official Congress.gov record.

View full action timeline22 actions
  1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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

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

    FloorHouse floor actions
  4. 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)

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

    FloorHouse floor actions
  6. Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3507-3509)

    FloorHouse floor actions
  7. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 8365, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Boyle (PA) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

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

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

    FloorHouse floor actions
  10. The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

    FloorHouse floor actions
  11. DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8365.

    FloorHouse floor actions
  12. 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.

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

    FloorHouse floor actions
  14. 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.

    FloorHouse floor actions
  15. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 551.

    CalendarsHouse floor actions
  16. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-635.

    CommitteeHouse floor actions
  17. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-635.

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

    CommitteeHouse committee actions
  19. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

    CommitteeHouse committee actions
  20. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    IntroReferralHouse floor actions
  21. Introduced in House

    IntroReferralLibrary of Congress
  22. Introduced in House

    IntroReferralLibrary of Congress

Roll-call votes

Recorded House and Senate votes connected to this bill. Your representatives appear first when available.

PassedMay 14, 2026House · Roll call 173

On Passage

Vote source ↗
219 Aye7 Not Voting204 No
View 430 recorded positions
Adam SmithNot Voting
Julia LetlowNot Voting
Michael GuestNot Voting
Neal P. DunnNot Voting
FailedMay 14, 2026House · Roll call 172

On Motion to Recommit

Vote source ↗
213 Nay210 Yea7 Not Voting
View 430 recorded positions
Julia LetlowNot Voting
Kevin KileyNot Voting
Michael GuestNot Voting
Neal P. DunnNot Voting

Discussion

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Sources: Congress.gov and official House and Senate vote records.

View data freshness details

Base metadata checked Sep 17, 2026 · Summary checked Sep 17, 2026 · Action timeline checked Sep 17, 2026 · Sponsorship checked Sep 17, 2026 · Topics checked Sep 17, 2026 · Committees checked Sep 17, 2026 · Status checked Sep 17, 2026 · Related bills checked Sep 17, 2026.