Cashless Bail Reporting Act

Cashless Bail Reporting Act

This bill requires the Department of Justice to publish annually a list of state and local governments that permit individuals who are charged with certain criminal offenses that pose a clear threat to public safety and order to be released pending trial on personal recognizance or upon execution of an unsecured appearance bond.

Under the bill, the criminal offenses that pose a threat to public safety and order include criminal offenses involving a violent or sexual act (e.g., burglary, murder, or rape) and offenses that promote public disorder (e.g., looting or vandalism).

On August 25, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that required the Department of Justice to submit to the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security a list of state and local jurisdictions that have substantially eliminated cash bail as a potential condition for pretrial release for crimes that pose a clear threat to public safety and order, including offenses involving violent, sexual, or indecent acts, or burglary, looting, or vandalism.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov