Respect for Local Communities Act
Sponsored By: Representative Pappas
Introduced
Summary
This bill would require local consent and public notice before any federal agency may build, acquire, renovate, or operate a new ICE processing site or detention center. It ties project approval to a Federal Register notice with public comment, engineering and economic reviews, signed local and gubernatorial agreements, and a 30-day congressional waiting period.
Show full summary
- Families and local communities would gain formal input. Mayors and a majority of the local legislative body must sign a written agreement and the public gets at least a 30-day comment period with published scope and analyses.
- State and local officials would hold veto power in practice. Projects cannot proceed without a signed agreement from the governor and local elected leaders and agencies must consider and respond to significant public comments under administrative procedures.
- Federal agencies would face new review and reporting steps. Plans must include an economic impact analysis and engineering reviews that address waste export, water use, and electrical demand, and agencies must wait 30 days after filing a report with Congress that includes the executed agreement.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Pause new ICE detention sites
If enacted, DHS or any Federal agency would not be able to start a new ICE processing site or detention center until several procedural steps are completed. The agency would have to publish a Federal Register notice open for at least 30 days with the project scope, due diligence showing compliance with detention guidance and environmental laws, an economic impact analysis, and an engineering review of waste export, water use, and electrical demand. After public comments, the agency head would have to consider and respond to significant comments and sign a written agreement with the local mayor or county executive, a majority of the local legislative body, and the State governor. The agency would also have to send a report and the signed agreement to specified Congressional committees and wait at least 30 days after that report before proceeding.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Pappas
NH • D
Cosponsors
Goodlander
NH • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Houlahan
PA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/25/2026
Foushee
NC • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Davids (KS)
KS • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Thanedar
MI • D
Sponsored 3/4/2026
Ross
NC • D
Sponsored 4/6/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in