S. 3959 · 119th Congress
Smarter Sentencing Act of 2026
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DurbinSponsor10 cosponsors · 6 D, 2 R, 2 I
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Blumenthal
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D
Booker
AK
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King
TK
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Kaine
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Lee
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Markey
BS
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Sanders
BS
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Schatz
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Wicker
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Warren10 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill reduces statutory mandatory minimum penalties for certain drug offenses, requires reporting on the impact of cost savings from the reductions, and establishes a public database of federal criminal offenses.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Mar 2, 2026
Smarter Sentencing Act of 2026
This bill reduces statutory mandatory minimum penalties for certain drug offenses, requires reporting on the impact of cost savings from the reductions, and establishes a public database of federal criminal offenses.
First, the bill reduces statutory mandatory minimum penalties for two types of offenders: (1) individuals who manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance; and (2) couriers who import or export a controlled substance.
Second, the bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to report on how the reduced expenditures on federal corrections and cost savings from the reductions in mandatory minimum sentences help to reduce overcrowding in federal prisons, increase investment in law enforcement and crime prevention, and reduce recidivism.
Third, the bill requires DOJ and federal agencies to report on and create public databases of all criminal offenses—criminal statutory offenses and criminal regulatory offenses.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Smarter Sentencing Act of 2026
Latest action (Mar 2, 2026): Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S733-734)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Mar 2, 2026
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.