Criminal History Access Act of 2026

The "Criminal History Access Act" aims to enhance public safety by granting state peace officer standards and training agencies (POST agencies) access to federal criminal history records. This legislation amends Section 534 of title 28, United States Code, to explicitly authorize the exchange of such records for the official use of these state agencies. Specifically, the bill defines a POST agency as a state entity with statutory authority to establish standards for the hiring, training, ethical conduct, and retention of law enforcement officers through certification or licensing processes. This access is intended to support their critical role in ensuring qualified and ethical individuals serve in law enforcement. The Attorney General is mandated to revise relevant federal regulations within 180 days to implement these new provisions.