HR 8365 · Passed House · 05-18-26
Monitor Accountability Act
What does the Monitor Accountability Act do?
HR 8365 is a House bill sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ). Federal courts must follow new rules when appointing monitors to oversee state and local governments under consent decrees — including fee caps, a 5-year term limit, a one-monitorship-at-a-time restriction, and mandatory public notice before appointment. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts must issue rules within 90 days, and active monitorships already running 6 or more years must get a new monitor within 180 days and be transferred to a new judge within 1 year.
Did HR 8365 pass? Where it stands
As of July 17, 2026, HR 8365 has passed the House.
Status: Passed House
Latest vote: House Passed 219–204 on May 14, 2026
Outlook: Long shot
Key provisions
- Monitor Term and Appointment Limits
- 5-year term limit per court order; no reappointment under the same order after term expires
- Monitor may not hold more than one monitorship at a time
- Successor monitor may not be employed by the same firm as the prior monitor
- Fee Caps and Public Accountability
- Fees capped at rates set by the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts; pro bono and reduced-rate services explicitly authorized
- Annual public accounting of services, fees, and any pro bono work required from each monitor
- Court must provide public notice and comment opportunity before appointing any monitor
- Case Transfer and Retroactivity
- Case transferred to a new judge in the same district 6 years after the court order
- Existing monitorships of 6+ years: new monitor appointed within 180 days of enactment, case transferred within 1 year
Last updated June 10, 2026