Strong Communities Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Strong Communities Act of 2025, amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to create the **COPS Strong Communities Program**. This program authorizes the Attorney General to award competitive grants to local law enforcement agencies. These grants are specifically for funding officers and recruits to attend law enforcement training programs at eligible entities, which include institutions of higher education or local law enforcement agencies offering such training. To be eligible, officers and recruits must commit to serving as full-time law enforcement officers for at least four years within an eight-year period following their training. This service must be performed in a local law enforcement agency located within a specified distance of their long-term residence, typically 7 miles or 20 miles for rural areas. The bill also includes provisions for repayment if service commitments are not met, though extenuating circumstances may be considered, and mandates annual transparency reports from the Attorney General detailing grant recipients and officer retention rates.