# 119-s-3824: State Authority to Protect Civil Rights

119-s-3824, State Authority to Protect Civil Rights, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3824
- 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-3824
- Congress: 119
- Title: State Authority to Protect Civil Rights
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-02-10
- Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**State civil enforcement of federal civil rights** would let State Attorneys General bring federal civil lawsuits under 18 U.S.C. 241 and 242 on behalf of state residents. - State attorneys general would have explicit authority to file civil actions in U.S. district court when they have reasonable cause to believe residents suffered bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death from conduct violating section 241, or are being or may be injured under section 242. - People harmed by conspiracies against rights or by deprivation of rights under color of law could see state-led cases seeking temporary, preliminary, or permanent injunctive relief, and compensatory or punitive damages if the state proves conduct was malicious, oppressive, or in reckless disregard of rights. - Individuals, including officials acting under color of law, could be defendants in these state-filed federal civil suits, and the bill leaves the existing criminal penalties in sections 241 and 242 unchanged.

## Provisions PRIA read

- State attorneys general can sue: benefit, medium. This bill would let a State attorney general file a federal civil lawsuit in the State's name. The suit would target civil-rights violations under 18 U.S.C. 241 and 242. The attorney general could sue on behalf of people who live in the State when there is reasonable cause to believe they suffered…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act
- 119-s-1507: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025
- 119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-3824 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3824)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [119-s-1507: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1507)
- [119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4504)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3824 (as of 2026-08-11).