BADGES for Native Communities Act

Source of recordUS Congress · congress.govLast synced Sep 3, 2026

Chamber

House

Progress

Where this bill stands in the legislative process.

Introduced
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became Law

Overview

This bill, the BADGES for Native Communities Act, aims to improve responses to missing and murdered Indigenous persons and enhance safety within Native communities. It requires the Department of Justice to establish a grant program for tribes to implement changes in their missing person and death investigation procedures. The Bureau of Indian Affairs must create a demonstration program for background checks on law enforcement applicants, and the GAO is tasked with studying evidence collection practices by federal law enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the bill promotes interdepartmental coordination for counseling resources for tribal and BIA law enforcement officers and establishes a study on barriers to evidence collection.

Key provisions

Establishes a grant program for tribes to improve responses to missing person and death investigations.
Requires the Bureau of Indian Affairs to create a demonstration program for background checks on law enforcement applicants.
Directs the Government Accountability Office to study evidence collection, handling, and processing procedures by federal law enforcement agencies.
Mandates interdepartmental coordination for counseling resources for tribal and BIA law enforcement officers.
Requires the Attorney General to coordinate with the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure culturally appropriate mental health programs are available.
Establishes a study on barriers to evidence collection by federal law enforcement agencies and tribal law enforcement agencies.
Requires the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System to facilitate reporting of missing persons cases of interest to Indian Tribes.

Bill text

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Feb 5, 2025XMLView source

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Legislative history

4 recorded actions

Feb 5, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Feb 5, 2025

Introduced in House

May 12, 2026House

Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.

May 21, 2026House

Subcommittee Hearings Held

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BADGES for Native Communities Act

Progress