Sponsor
Angela Craig
Representative · D-MN
Representative · D-MN
The bill trades improved lawmaker knowledge and public accountability about policing for increased safety, logistical burdens on local departments, and potential reputational risks from public noncompliance reporting.
House members will be required to complete a one-shift police ride-along each term, giving them first‑hand exposure to local policing practices and community safety issues.
Constituents and taxpayers will have more informed representation because Members will observe policing directly, improving how they draft and vote on law enforcement and public‑safety policy.
Voters and the public will gain transparency and accountability because the House Ethics Committee can publicly list Members who fail to comply with the ride‑along requirement.
House members face safety and potential liability risks during ride‑alongs, which could lead to increased personal danger or additional liability protections/costs borne by offices or taxpayers.
Local police departments may experience scheduling and resource strains if many Members require placements, imposing time costs on law enforcement agencies and communities.
Members who miss the requirement for legitimate scheduling or safety reasons risk public naming, which could politicize compliance and create reputational harms for those Members.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires each House Member to participate in one local law enforcement ride-along per congressional term, beginning with the 118th Congress.
Official title: Requiring Members of the House of Representatives to serve one shift in a passenger seat of a law enforcement vehicle observing the work day of a local law enforcement officer once during each term as a Member of the House, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 15, 2025 by Angela Craig · Last progress May 15, 2025
Requires every Member of the House of Representatives (including Delegates and the Resident Commissioner) to participate in one ride-along — defined as serving a single shift in the passenger seat of a local law enforcement vehicle in the Member’s congressional district — once during each term of Congress, starting with the 118th Congress. Directs the House Administration Committee to write implementing regulations and authorizes the Ethics Committee to publish lists or Congressional Record entries for Members who fail to meet the requirement. The resolution establishes the duty, a basic definition of a ride-along, an implementation role for the Committee on House Administration, and public reporting and disclosure authority for the Committee on Ethics regarding noncompliance.