Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7125
Stop Body Camera Paywalls Act
Congress Proposes Ban on Fees for Accessing Police Body Camera and Jail Surveillance Footage
Legislative Progress
House
Key Points
- This bill, introduced by Representative Tlaib, would stop police departments and local governments from charging people money to see or get copies of police camera footage.
- To keep receiving federal grant money for law enforcement, states and cities would have to prove they aren't charging the public any fees—including court fees—to access these videos.
- The rule would cover several types of video, including body cameras worn by officers, dashboard cameras in police cars, and security footage from inside jails and prisons.
- The goal is to make it easier for regular people to see what happens during police encounters or inside correctional facilities without having to pay expensive fees for public records.
- If a local government continues to charge for this footage, they would lose access to major federal funding programs that many departments use to pay for equipment and staff.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Positive Impacts(2)
Broader Impacts
Score
Scores: -5 (harmful) to +5 (beneficial)Short-term: 0-2 yearsLong-term: 10-30 years
Milestones
2 milestones3 actions
Jan 15, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 15, 2026
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Jan 13, 2026
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H697)
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Stop Body Camera Paywalls Act
Bill NumberHR 7125
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(16)D: 16
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.