Docket HopperPart I · Bills · 119th S. 3959
S. 3959 · 119th CongressCrime and Law Enforcement

Smarter Sentencing Act of 2026 has not moved since its introduction on Mar 2, 2026, with cosponsors from both parties

Sponsored by Durbin, Richard J. D-IL · 10 cosponsors: 6 Democrats, 2 Republicans, 2 independent
IntroducedMar 2, 2026
Reported—
Passed one chamber—
Passed both—
Law—
What it changes · CRS summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service [2]. 145 words.

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.

Context
Committees
Senate Judiciary Committee
Policy area
Crime and Law Enforcement: 118 of 4,553 bills became law, 113th–118th (2.6%)
Sponsor
6 of 577 bills enacted since 2013
Text versions
1: introduced in senate · 1,668 words
Latest action
Mar 2, 2026: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S733-734)
Records
Congress.gov · Bill text
Exhibit 1Passage odds band at each stage, rated when the bill reached it [4]
Related bills · 2

Each bill appears once, under its strongest link. 2 in all.

Related, per CRS or House · 2

See these 2 bills on the network map →

Exhibit 2Articles naming the bill per day, last 90 days, US sources [3]