bipartisan legislation to strengthen background checks for law enforcement officers... The Criminal History Access Act would explicitly authorize the exchange of criminal history record information between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and state Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) agencies.
Strengthen police background checks by supporting legislation that authorizes criminal history information sharing between the FBI and state POST agencies.
Occurrences
Rep. Derek Schmidt Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Police Background Checks
introduced the Criminal History Access Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure that state law enforcement training and certification agencies can access the criminal history information they need to properly screen and approve officers
Schmidt has cosponsored the STOP Scams Against Seniors Act (H.R. 6426) which would authorize the use of federal grant funds to establish and support Elder Justice Task Forces to help local, state, and federal agencies work together to investigate and prosecute illegal scammers.
I’m particularly proud to cosponsor the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which builds upon the work I did as Attorney General to expand the number of states that recognize Kansas concealed carry permits.
H.R. 8352, the Criminal History Access Act of 2026, introduced by Rep. Derek Schmidt (R-KS), gives State Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) agencies access to federal data repositories, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) system, for purposes of conducting background checks on law enforcement candidates.
Mr. Schmidt (for himself and Ms. Ross) introduced the following bill ... To authorize peace officer standards and training agencies to access criminal history records, and for other purposes.
Evidence
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Actions: Mr. Schmidt (for himself and Ms. Ross) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed. Full title: To authorize peace officer standards and training agencies to access criminal history records, and for other purposes. Sponsors: Derek Schmidt (KS).
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The House proceedings list 'Criminal History Access Act, as amended' and show it as 'Passed House'.
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During National Police Week, Congresswoman Deborah Ross and Congressman Derek Schmidt’s bipartisan legislation, the Criminal History Access Act of 2026, passed the U.S. House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. The legislation will ensure that state law enforcement training and certification agencies can access the criminal history information they need to properly screen and approve officers.
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CRIMINAL HISTORY ACCESS ACT OF 2026 ... H.R. 8352 ... To authorize peace officer standards and training agencies to access criminal history records, and for other purposes.
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CRIMINAL HISTORY ACCESS ACT ... (H.R. 8352) to authorize peace officer ... tory Access Act of 2026' ...
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Congress has passed legislation to allow the FBI to facilitate the exchange of criminal history record information (CHRI) between states for authorized non-criminal justice purposes. Under 28 U.S.C. §534(a), the Attorney General is authorized to 'exchange such records and information' with authorized officials of the Federal Government and the States.
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Identification and criminal history information may be disclosed to federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies or any agency directly engaged in criminal justice activity.
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The May 12 House record shows Rep. Derek Schmidt moving to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 8352, a bill concerning POST-agency access to criminal-history records.
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The bill text amended 28 U.S.C. 534 to add state POST agencies to the officials eligible for criminal-history record exchanges and directed Attorney General implementing regulations after enactment.
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Rep. Deborah Ross said current federal law blocks most POST agencies from accessing federal criminal histories, described the bill as adding them to 28 U.S.C. 534, and credited Schmidt with introducing it.
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The May 13 Senate record lists H.R. 8352, received from the House as an act on POST-agency access to criminal-history records, and referred it to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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The Congress.gov public-law table for the 119th Congress lists enacted laws; searches on the page found no entry for H.R. 8352 or the Criminal History Access Act.
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The House report identified H.R. 8352 as legislation to authorize POST agencies to access criminal-history records.
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Last Action Date Listed May 13, 2026 Action Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
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Full Title An Act To authorize peace officer standards and training agencies to access criminal history records, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Schmidt, Derek
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H.R. 8352.-- To authorize peace officer standards and training agencies to access criminal history records, and for other purposes. Referred to the Judiciary Apr. 16, 2026. Reported amended May 4, 2026; Rept. 119-636. Union Calendar. Rules suspended. Passed House amended May 12, 2026. Received in Senate and referred to the Judiciary May 13, 2026.
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119th Congress Second session, beginning January 3, 2026 Total number of public laws: 39 Public Law Number | Bill Number | Title | Date Approved | Stat. Citation | Number of Pages 119-111 | H.R. 5334 | Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 | Sept. 18, 2026 | 140 Stat. 1026 | 24
Assessments
Schmidt introduced and personally advanced H.R. 8352, the Criminal History Access Act of 2026, which directly matches the promise by adding state POST agencies to the criminal-history record access framework. The bill passed the House during his current federal term and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, so he deserves candidate credit for substantial same-term progress. However, the evidence does not show final Senate passage, presidential signature, or enactment into public law as of the review record, so the promised policy change has not been fully delivered.
The claim is specific: support legislation authorizing FBI/state criminal-history information sharing with state POST agencies for police background checks. The evidence shows Schmidt directly introduced H.R. 8352, the Criminal History Access Act of 2026, whose stated purpose closely matches that promise, and the House passed it in May 2026. That demonstrates substantial legislative progress and clear candidate credit. However, the record provided does not show final enactment into law or completion of the full promised policy outcome at the federal level. Because Schmidt materially advanced and won House passage but there is no evidence the measure became law, this is best scored as partial rather than delivered.