Strong Communities Act of 2025

This bill lets the Justice Department give competitive grants to local police departments so they can pay for recruits and officers to attend approved police training at colleges or police-run academies, as long as those trainees agree to serve in their own communities after training. The grants can start in fiscal year 2025.

To get this support, each recruit must work full-time as an officer for at least 4 years within 8 years after finishing training, and serve close to where they have lived for at least 5 years—within 7 miles, or within 20 miles in smaller counties (under 150,000 people). If someone doesn’t complete the required service, they have to pay back the benefits, unless the Justice Department excuses them for special circumstances set by regulation. The Justice Department must also report each year to Congress on who got these grants and how many trainees were hired and stayed on the job.

Key points

• Who is affected: Local police departments, recruits, and officers attending approved training programs.
• What changes: Grant funds can cover training costs if recruits commit to serve locally; repayment is required if they don’t finish their service, with some exceptions .
• Where service happens: Close to the recruit’s longtime home—7 miles, or 20 miles in small counties.
• When: Starts with fiscal year 2025; annual reporting to Congress is required .