# 119-s-263: FAIR Act of 2025

119-s-263, FAIR Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY] (R-KY); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-263
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-263
- Congress: 119
- Title: FAIR Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-01-27
- Sponsor: Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY] (R-KY)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Requires judicial process for all federal forfeitures and raises the government's burden of proof.** This rewrite also expands legal protections for people whose property is seized, tightens timing and notice rules, and shifts most forfeiture proceeds to the Treasury General Fund. - People who lose property get faster notice and more access to counsel. Identity and address must be determined and notice sent within 7 days, and courts can appoint counsel when defendants cannot afford a lawyer or when lawyer costs would exceed the seized property's value. - Individuals facing cash-seizure claims face new procedural protections for monetary-instrument cases. The bill adds a probable-cause hearing requirement that must occur within 14 days after notice and return of property unless probable cause is found. - Federal agencies and courts must move forfeitures into U.S. district court and meet higher proof rules. The government must show use or involvement by clear and convincing evidence and many forfeiture proceeds are redirected to the Treasury General Fund instead of agency asset funds.

## Cosponsors (8)

- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2025-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT] (R-UT), 2025-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2025-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID] (R-ID), 2025-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY] (R-WY), 2025-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-01-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2025-01-27T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Property seized only by court order: benefit, medium. If enacted, federal agencies would not be allowed to forfeit property without going to a U.S. district court. All federal civil forfeitures would need a court order. The rule would apply even if other laws seem to allow nonjudicial forfeiture.
- Stronger protections in civil forfeiture: benefit, medium. If enacted, the government would need clear and convincing proof to show property was used to help a crime. If you present evidence you are an innocent owner, the government would then have to prove you are not by a preponderance of the evidence. Courts could appoint a lawyer if you cannot afford o…
- Fast hearings for money seizures: benefit, low. If enacted, anti-structuring rules would require the government to show a higher mental state by adding "knowingly." For property seized for alleged structuring, courts would have to hold a probable-cause hearing within 14 days after notice. Property must be returned unless the court finds probable…
- Most forfeiture money to Treasury: mixed, medium. If enacted, most money from forfeited property would be sent to the U.S. Treasury General Fund or transferred as the Treasurer decides. The bill would change rules that currently send many forfeiture proceeds to the DOJ Asset Forfeiture Fund. Agencies would have to report deposits and clearly separ…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.
- 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan.
- 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California.

## Sources
- [119-s-263 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/263)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755)
- [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-263 (as of 2026-08-11).