PSOB Reform Bill Introduced

Members of the House and Senate introduced companion bills this month to reform the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program. The Officer John Barnes and Chief Michael Ansbro Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program Expansion Act of 2026 (S. 3897 / H.R. 7718), led by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Reps. Dave Min (D-CA-47), and Randy Weber (R-TX-14), includes several commonsense reforms to the PSOB program, including through extending eligibility and partial benefits to permanently disabled officers, setting a 270-day deadline for benefit determinations, and speeding up processing for benefits certified through other programs.

PORAC has had longstanding concerns about the backlogs in this program and has raised them at the federal level before. The introduction of these bills represents a promising effort to tackle these issues and alleviate the burden on officers’ families. PORAC President Brian Marvel contributed the following quote to the bills’ release:

“This legislation to reform the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program—with strict deadlines, interim payments, and stronger oversight—finally delivers a timely and transparent process. These changes honor the sacrifices of peace officers by ensuring swift benefits and real accountability for those who serve. We’re grateful to Senators Gillibrand and Cruz, along with Representative Min, for championing this legislation, which will end the endless delays and bureaucratic excuses.”

Law Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act Passes House

This month, the House passed the PORAC-endorsed Law-Enforcement Innovate to De-Escalate Act (H.R. 2189 / S. 1283). Led by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI-5) and Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), this legislation updates the Gun Control Act of 1968 to exclude “less-than-lethal projectile devices” from the definition of “firearm.”

Currently, the ATF classifies devices like TASERs as firearms because of how they launch projectiles, even though they pose little risk of serious injury or death. This makes it harder for law enforcement to obtain these important tools for self-defense and de-escalation, and can lead to their use being incorrectly labeled as “deadly force” under many state laws.

PORAC will continue to track the bill’s progress in the Senate.