Stop Body Camera Paywalls Act

Sponsor: Rashida Tlaib (Democratic-MI)

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Ends fees for public access to police camera footage in many communities.

This bill would stop local governments and police departments from charging people to see or get copies of certain camera footage. If passed, communities seeking funding for programs that receive both Byrne and COPS grants would need to offer this footage for free. This means the public would no longer pay fees to access recordings from body cameras, dash cameras, or jail surveillance.

What Would Change

Today, some states and local governments can charge fees for people to view or get copies of police camera footage. If this bill becomes law, states and local governments would need to stop charging these fees if they want to receive funding for programs that get money from both Byrne and COPS grants. This would make access free for the public in those areas.

Key Provisions

Requires states and local governments to certify they do not charge for public access to certain camera footage to receive funding for programs that get money from both Byrne and COPS grants.
Blocks states and local governments from getting funding for programs that receive both Byrne and COPS grants if they charge for public access to camera footage.
Defines "certain camera video footage" to include recordings from body cameras, dash cameras, jail or prison surveillance, and any other relevant law enforcement agency footage.

View on Congress.gov

HR 7125 · 119th Congress · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 3/10

Stop Body Camera Paywalls Act

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity