All Roll Calls
Yes: 429 • No: 417
119-hr-8365119th Congress
Monitor Accountability Act
Sponsored By: Representative Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Passed House
Summary
This bill would impose new accountability and transparency rules for court-appointed monitors. It would cap fees, limit terms, require public notice and comment, and force annual public accountings and judge transfers for long-running monitors.
Show full summary
- Monitors: The Judicial Conference of the United States (JCUS) would set maximum fee rates and require pro bono or reduced-rate options. Individuals could not hold more than one monitorship at a time and could not serve longer than 5 years.
- Courts and cases: Before appointing a monitor courts must give public notice and allow comment. Revisions to a monitorship require a hearing and may only change requirements where the subject has not achieved substantial and sustained compliance. Cases with monitors in place for 6 years would be transferred to another judge.
- Transparency for communities: Monitors must file an annual accounting of services and fees that the court must publish. For monitorships active 6 years at enactment the bill requires a new monitor within 180 days and a judge transfer within one year.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Six‑year reset for long monitorships
This bill would set timing rules for long‑running monitorships. If a monitorship has already lasted 6 years when this bill is enacted, a new monitor would be appointed within 180 days, and the case would move to another judge within 1 year after enactment. Going forward, if a monitorship is still in place 6 years after the court’s order, the case would transfer to another judge in the same district on that 6‑year date.
Public input and fee caps for monitors
This bill would set new rules for court‑appointed monitors of state or local governments. Courts would have to post a proposed monitor’s name and let the public comment before any appointment. A person would be limited to one monitorship at a time, for no longer than 5 years, with no reappointment under the same order. A successor could not work for the same employer as the prior monitor. If anyone seeks to change a monitorship, the court would hold a hearing and could change only items not yet in substantial and sustained compliance. The Judicial Conference of the United States would set maximum hourly rates, and monitors would be allowed to use pro bono time or reduced rates. Each year, monitors would file a public accounting of services, fees, and any pro bono or reduced‑rate work. These appointment and fee rules would take effect within 180 days after this section takes effect.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
AZ • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]
SC • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22]
TX • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
house vote • 5/14/2026
On Motion to Recommit
Yes: 210 • No: 213
house vote • 5/14/2026
On Passage
Yes: 219 • No: 204