Congress mandates public list of jurisdictions allowing cashless bail
H.R. 5625 — Cashless Bail Reporting Act · Filed by Mark Harris (R-NC) · 23 cosponsors · Introduced Sep 30, 2025 · Passed chamber
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill requires the Attorney General to publish an annual list of states and local jurisdictions that allow cashless bail (release on personal recognizance or unsecured bonds) for serious crimes including violent offenses, sexual crimes, and public-disorder offenses. The list is meant to make bail practices transparent and publicly available.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is a mandatory public-disclosure requirement. It does not change bail law, impose new restrictions, or create new criminal penalties—it simply mandates that the Attorney General compile and publish information about existing state and local bail practices.
What the text implies
- The bill defines 'covered offense' by reference to AG discretion ('offenses the Attorney General determines pose a clear threat'), creating potential for inconsistent or shifting categorization across administrations and years.
- Publication of jurisdictions permitting cashless bail may create political pressure on local prosecutors and judges, potentially influencing bail-setting practices independent of legislative change.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill increases transparency by requiring public disclosure of bail practices across jurisdictions, allowing citizens and advocates to see which areas permit cashless bail for serious crimes and to evaluate bail policy effectiveness. Transparency itself strengthens democratic accountability, though the bill does not change bail law or restrict any jurisdiction's authority.