Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a U.S. Commission on Hate Crimes to study causes, improve reporting to the National Incident-Based Reporting System, and recommend prevention steps.
Show full summary
- Families and communities: Would investigate factors behind hate incidents, including online hate, and recommend bias prevention measures that coordinate with nonprofits and local education agencies. The Commission would publish a report to Congress and the President within 1 year after all members have been appointed.
- Local and Tribal law enforcement and civil rights groups: Would study underreporting and barriers to NIBRS participation, address zero-reporting agencies, and structure a 10-member commission with no more than five members from law enforcement and no elected officials serving.
- Federal agencies and oversight: Would require any federal department or agency to provide requested documents and data and directs the Government Accountability Office to audit FBI hate crime data within 1 year and, within 180 days after the audit, report findings and recommendations comparing FBI data with civil rights organizations and the National Crime Victimization Survey.
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
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
GAO audit of FBI hate crime data
If enacted, the bill would require the Comptroller General to audit FBI hate-crime data within one year of enactment. The audit would assess FBI methods for collecting and verifying hate-crime reports and compare FBI data to other sources, such as civil rights groups and the Bureau of Justice Statistics' victim survey. The law would define key terms for the audit, including the FBI Director and agencies that report zero hate crimes to the national system. GAO would send a report to Congress within 180 days after the audit, with findings, recommendations (including possible automated anomaly detection), and the FBI's response about actions taken or planned.
New federal hate crimes commission
If enacted, this bill would create the United States Commission on Hate Crimes. The commission would have 10 members. Two members would be appointed by each Senate leader, two by each House leader, and two by the Attorney General. All members would have to be appointed within 60 days after enactment. No more than five members could be from law enforcement and no more than five from the civil rights community. Members of Congress and other elected officials could not serve. The commission would meet for the first time within 90 days after all members are appointed, meet bimonthly after that, and send a report to Congress and the President within one year after all members are appointed. The commission would end 90 days after it sends that report. Federal agencies would have to give the commission requested documents and data needed for its work.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov