Uniform Standards for Federal Law Enforcement Act of 2026
Officially: “Uniform Standards for Federal Law Enforcement Act of 2026” Read the full text
What it does
Read it in plain language
1Short title
This section would let the Act be called the Uniform Standards for Federal Law Enforcement Act of 2026.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Uniform Standards for Federal Law Enforcement Act of 2026 .
2Limitation on the use of deadly force by Federal law enforcement officers
This section would limit when a Federal law enforcement officer may use deadly force. A Federal law enforcement officer could use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes doing so is necessary to prevent imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or to another person. Deadly force could not be treated as necessary solely to prevent a fleeing suspect from escaping, solely to disable a moving vehicle, or against a person whose actions threaten only themself or property. Firing a gun at a moving vehicle could not be treated as necessary unless a person inside the vehicle is threatening the officer or another person with deadly force by some means other than the vehicle itself, or unless the driver is operating the vehicle in a way that threatens to cause death or serious physical injury to the officer or others and no other objectively reasonable way to respond exists, including moving out of the vehicle's path. Before using deadly force, the officer would have to give the person a verbal warning, but only to the extent practicable and only if giving the warning would not itself increase the imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person. Except inside a Federal prison, an officer could not fire a gun as a warning shot. The Attorney General, working with the heads of other Federal agencies that employ Federal law enforcement officers, would have to develop and provide training to those officers on methods and tactics for handling situations where this section prohibits the use of deadly force. For this section, a Federal law enforcement officer means a Federal law enforcement officer as defined in section 115 of title 18 of the United States Code, and also means an immigration officer as defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101).
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2. Limitation on the use of deadly force by Federal law enforcement officers (a) In general A Federal law enforcement officer may only use deadly force when the officer has a reasonable belief that the use of such force is necessary to prevent imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to the law enforcement officer or another person. (b) Clarifications (1) In general The use of deadly force may not be considered necessary— (A) solely to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect; (B) solely to disable a moving vehicle; or (C) against a person whose actions are a threat solely to themself or to property. (2) Discharge at a moving vehicle The discharge of a firearm by a Federal law enforcement officer at a moving vehicle may not be considered necessary unless— (A) a person in the vehicle is threatening the officer or another person with deadly force by means other than the vehicle; or (B) the person operating the vehicle is doing so in a manner that threatens to cause death or serious physical injury to the officer or others, and no other objectively reasonable means of defense appear to exist, including moving out of the path of the vehicle. (c) Verbal warning Prior to using deadly force, a Federal law enforcement officer shall give a verbal warning to the individual on whom the officer intends to use such force, to the extent practicable, and only if giving such warning would not increase the imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to the law enforcement officer or another person. (d) Prohibition on warning shots Except in a Federal prison, a Federal law enforcement officer may not discharge a firearm as a warning. (e) Training The Attorney General, in consultation with the heads of other Federal agencies that employ Federal law enforcement officers, shall develop and provide training to Federal law enforcement officers on methods and tactics to use in conducting law enforcement activities in situations, with respect to which, the use of deadly force is prohibited under this section. (f) Definition In this section, the term Federal law enforcement officer means— (1) a Federal law enforcement officer, as such term is defined in section 115 of title 18, United States Code; and (2) an immigration officer, as such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 ).
Where it is
In the House.