H.R. 8832 — Supporting Women COPS Act of 2026

This section establishes the Task Force on Women in Law Enforcement, composed of 12 members appointed by the Attorney General, to study State hiring standards for law enforcement officers, develop national hiring standards, and develop recommendations for female officer retention and promotion. The Task Force must include one representative from the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, two mayors, three female police executives (one each heading a municipal agency, a State agency, and a sheriff’s department), two female officers at the rank of lieutenant or below, two representatives from community-based organizations, one representative from a law enforcement accreditation or standards and training organization, and one representative from a national law enforcement organization representing women. The Task Force is directed to develop recommendations for national hiring standards covering physical fitness, critical thinking, and communication skills that do not disadvantage applicants based on sex; for female officer retention addressing barriers such as physical fitness after childbirth and family responsibilities including childcare; and for female advancement to leadership roles. Not later than 18 months after enactment, the Task Force must submit a report to Congress detailing its findings and recommendations.

This section provides additional funding equal to 5 percent of a state’s allocation under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) to any state that adopts recommendations developed under section 2(c), beginning in the first fiscal year after such recommendations are issued; the additional funds may be used for any purpose authorized under the JAG program. The section also authorizes the Attorney General to provide technical assistance to states adopting the recommendations and authorizes such sums as may be necessary to carry out both the incentive payments and the technical assistance for each fiscal year beginning after the recommendations are developed.