119th Congress
S. 3959
Smarter Sentencing Act of 2026
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became law
- Sponsor
- Richard J. Durbin(D-IL)
- Introduced
- Mar 2, 2026
- Policy area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Committees
- Senate Committee on the Judiciary
- Official text
- Introduced in Senate · Congress.gov page
Cosponsors (10)
Original cosponsors (10)
- Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME)
- Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
- Brian Schatz (D-HI)
- Cory A. Booker (D-NJ)
- Edward J. Markey (D-MA)
- Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
- Mike Lee (R-UT)
- Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
- Roger F. Wicker (R-MS)
- Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Summary
Summary by the Congressional Research Service· describes the “Introduced in Senate” version
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.
Roll-call votes
No recorded votes on this bill.
Actions
- Mar 2, 2026 · Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S733-734) - Mar 2, 2026
Introduced in Senate