Monitor Accountability Act

What this measure contains

Monitor Accountability Act This bill requires the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to establish conditions on the appointment of monitors to oversee state and local governmental entities. A monitor is an independent official appointed to oversee corrective reforms as part of a civil settlement agreement or consent decree, such as to remedy a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing. Among the conditions, this bill requires notice and an opportunity for public comment prior to the appointment of a monitor, limits an individual to one monitor appointment at a time, sets a five-year term limit for monitors, and requires a public accounting of the fees charged and services provided by the monitor. It also caps fees and explicitly authorizes the use of pro bono services. In 2021, the Department of Justice began implementing a set of principles and specific recommendations regarding the use of monitors in civil settlement agreements and consent decrees involving state and local governmental entities, including recommendations relating to term limits, capping fees, and public accountability.

The latest Congressional Research Service summary in the bill's GovInfo status record, or its official title when no summary has been published. Amendments can change the wording; read a specific version for its complete provisions.

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Bill text and versions

Drafts can change as a measure moves through Congress. Check the version attached to a recorded vote.

• Referred in Senate · Official document ↗· May 18, 2026
• Engrossed in House · Official document ↗· May 14, 2026
• Reported in House · Official document ↗· May 4, 2026
• Introduced in House · Official document ↗· Apr 20, 2026

Legislative path

Each stage below is a House or Senate floor decision: every recorded roll call on this measure, plus passage by voice vote or unanimous consent, which records no individual votes. Each stage shows the latest version published before that day; the chamber may have voted on an amended text. Roll calls name every member. A member's row follows their votes, and a highlighted vote marks where they voted for advancing the measure at one stage and against it at another (passage, cloture, motions to proceed, agreeing to the other chamber's version). Amendments and motions such as recommit or table don't count as a change, because an aye there isn't a vote for the measure.

1. Introduced in House
2. Reported in House
3. Engrossed in Houseby House passage
4. Referred in Senate

Decision stages

1. May 14, 2026 · House

   House motion to recommit on Reported in House: Failed

   210 aye · 213 no · 7 not voting · Source roll call

2. May 14, 2026 · House

   House passage on Reported in House: Passed, reported as Engrossed in House

   219 aye · 204 no · 7 not voting · Source roll call

House members along the path

Aye yea or aye · No nay or no · Present · NV not voting · Changed reversed on advancing the measure

Members are identified by the Bioguide ID in each roll call, not by name. Not voting is not a no vote; a blank cell means the member wasn't listed for that roll call.Congress.gov actions ↗

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Legislative history

1. Apr 20, 2026

   Introduced in House

2. Apr 20, 2026

   Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

3. Apr 22, 2026

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

4. Apr 22, 2026

   Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 13 - 11.

5. May 4, 2026

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-635.

6. May 4, 2026

   Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 551.

7. May 12, 2026

   Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1275 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5625, H.R. 6260, H.R. 8365, H. Con. Res. 96 and H.R. 8469. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 5625, H.R. 6260, H.R. 8365, and H.Con.Res. 96 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8469 under a structured rule. The resolution makes in order one motion to recommit on each bill.

8. May 14, 2026

   Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1275. (consideration: CR H3480-3486)

9. May 14, 2026

   Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5625, H.R. 6260, H.R. 8365, H. Con. Res. 96 and H.R. 8469. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 5625, H.R. 6260, H.R. 8365, and H.Con.Res. 96 under a closed rule. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 8469 under a structured rule. The resolution makes in order one motion to recommit on each bill.

10. May 14, 2026

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8365.

11. May 14, 2026

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

12. May 14, 2026

    Mr. Boyle (PA) moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H3486)

13. May 14, 2026

    The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.

14. May 14, 2026

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 8365, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Boyle (PA) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

15. May 14, 2026

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3507-3509)

16. May 14, 2026

    On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 210 - 213 (Roll no. 172).

17. May 14, 2026

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 219 - 204 (Roll no. 173). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3480)

18. May 14, 2026

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 219 - 204 (Roll no. 173). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H3480)

19. May 14, 2026

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

20. May 18, 2026

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill sponsors