Sponsors (13)
The bill loosens federal grant restrictions to allow recruitment/retention bonuses and clarifies who qualifies as a law enforcement officer—likely helping understaffed agencies and improving public safety in some places, but risking diversion of grant funds, higher federal personnel spending, and a tilt toward traditional sworn positions over alternative public-safety roles.
Understaffed law-enforcement agencies can use federal grant funds to offer recruitment and retention bonuses, helping them fill vacancies and stabilize staffing.
Communities served by previously understaffed departments may see improved public safety as agencies stabilize staffing levels.
Local governments and grant administrators get a clearer statutory definition of 'law enforcement officer', reducing legal ambiguity for grant eligibility and administration.
Local governments and communities may see grant dollars diverted from other crime‑prevention programs (training, community programs, equipment) toward bonuses, reducing support for alternative public-safety strategies.
Taxpayers may indirectly fund officer salary bonuses through increased federal grant expenditures, raising federal spending on personnel costs.
Hiring and retention incentives may favor traditional sworn officers over alternative public‑safety or civilian positions, shifting workforce composition and priorities within agencies.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Permits community policing grant funds to be used for recruitment and retention bonuses for law enforcement officers at agencies with declining recruitment or high turnover and clarifies who qualifies as a law enforcement officer.
Introduced September 16, 2025 by Greg Landsman · Last progress September 16, 2025
Expands allowed uses of federal community policing (COPS) grants to permit agencies to use funds to provide recruitment and retention bonuses for law enforcement officers where recruitment is falling or retirements/resignations are high. Also clarifies the federal definition of “law enforcement officer” by adding a cross-reference to the existing statutory definition.