# 119-hr-9860: Pardon Transparency and Accountability Act of 2026

119-hr-9860, Pardon Transparency and Accountability Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47] (D-CA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-07).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9860
- As of: 2026-08-07
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9860
- Congress: 119
- Title: Pardon Transparency and Accountability Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-22
- Sponsor: Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-07

## Summary

**Creates stronger transparency around presidential clemency.** The bill makes pardons, commutations, reprieves, and fine remissions public with written reasons and new reporting so victims, lawmakers, and the public see why clemency is granted and who influenced it. - Victims: The Pardon Attorney must try to notify victims, include any written victim statements, and record victims’ views about potential clemency for inclusion in a Justice Impact Statement. - Pardon Attorney and Justice Department staff: The Pardon Attorney must prepare a Justice Impact Statement when aware of potential clemency, complete it no later than 30 days after awareness, collect law enforcement opinions, and receive immediate notice from any DOJ or White House employee who learns clemency is being considered. - Lobbyists and advocates: Contacts to seek clemency are treated as lobbying. Lobbyists or their organizations must register within 2 days of first contact and file a report within 2 days after a clemency-related contact, and one contact counts for reporting rules. The bill also requires the Pardon Attorney to do compliance studies starting 180 days after enactment and to send annual findings and recommendations to Congress.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10] (D-VA), 2026-07-22T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More clemency transparency and oversight: benefit, low. If enacted, the Pardon Attorney would have to prepare a Justice Impact Statement within 30 days after learning a clemency grant is being considered. If enacted, that statement must describe victim outreach efforts, include any written victim statements, and record victims' and law enforcement views…
- New fast rules for clemency lobbying: cost, medium. If enacted, this would make asking for or influencing a pardon, commutation, reprieve, or remission of a fine count as lobbying. If enacted, any person paid or retained to contact officials about clemency would need to register with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House within 2 da…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-8831: Protecting Our Democracy Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-9860 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9860)

## Related
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7853)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-8831: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8831)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9860 (as of 2026-08-07).