H.R. 7638

119 HR 7638 IH: Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act of 2026
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2026-02-20
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 I  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  H. R. 7638  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   February 20, 2026   Mr. Walberg  (for himself,  Mr. Raskin ,  Mr. McClintock , and  Ms. Scanlon ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary , and in addition to the Committees on  Energy and Commerce ,  Ways and Means , and  Financial Services , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned   A BILL
To restore the integrity of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act of 2026   or the   FAIR Act of 2026  .
2.
Civil forfeiture and nonjudicial forfeiture
Section 983 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in the subsection heading, by striking
claim;  ;
(B)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A)—
(I)
in clause (i)—
(aa)
by striking  clauses (ii) through (v), in any nonjudicial  and inserting  clause (ii), in any ; and
(bb)
by striking  60  and inserting  7 ;
(II)
by striking clauses (ii) through (v); and
(III)
by inserting after clause (i) the following:
(ii)
If the identity or interest of a party is not determined until after the seizure or turnover but is determined before a declaration of forfeiture is entered, the Government shall determine the identity and address of the party or interest within 7 days after the seizure or turnover, and notice shall be sent to such interested party not later than 7 days after the determination by the Government of the identity and address of the party or the party's interest.
 ;
(ii)
by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C);
(iii)
by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (F) as subparagraphs (B) through (D), respectively; and
(iv)
in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, by striking  nonjudicial ;
(C)
by striking paragraph (2);
(D)
by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and
(E)
in paragraph (2)(A), as so redesignated—
(i)
by striking  90  and inserting  30 ; and
(ii)
by striking  after a claim has been filed  and inserting  after the date of the seizure ;
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
(A)
If a person with standing to contest the forfeiture of property in a civil forfeiture proceeding under a civil forfeiture statute is—
(i)
financially unable to obtain representation by counsel; or
(ii)
the cost of obtaining representation would exceed the value of the seized property,
 the court may authorize or appoint counsel to represent that person with respect to the claim.
 ;
(B)
in subparagraph (B), by inserting  or appoint  after  authorize ; and
(C)
in paragraph (2)(A)—
(i)
by striking  in a judicial civil forfeiture proceeding  and inserting  in a civil forfeiture proceeding ;
(ii)
by inserting  under paragraph (1)  after  counsel ;
(iii)
by striking  , and the property subject to forfeiture is real property that is being used by the person as a primary residence, ; and
(iv)
by striking  , at the request of the person, shall insure  and inserting  shall ensure ;
(3)
in subsection (c)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking  a preponderance of the evidence  and inserting  clear and convincing evidence ;
(B)
in paragraph (2), by striking  a preponderance of the evidence  and inserting  clear and convincing evidence ; and
(C)
by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
(3)
if the Government's theory of forfeiture is that the property was used to commit or facilitate the commission of a criminal offense, or was involved in the commission of a criminal offense, the Government shall establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that—
(A)
there was a substantial connection between the property and the offense; and
(B)
the owner of any interest in the seized property—
(i)
used the property with intent to facilitate the offense; or
(ii)
knowingly consented or was willfully blind to the use of the property by another in connection with the offense.
 ;
(4)
in subsection (d)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking the second sentence and inserting the following:  The Government shall have the burden of proving that the claimant is not an innocent owner by a preponderance of the evidence. ; and
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  an owner who  and all that follows through  upon learning  and inserting  an owner who, upon learning ; and
(ii)
in subparagraph (B)(i), by inserting before  For purposes of this paragraph  the following:  If the Government satisfies its burden under paragraph (1), the claimant may rebut the Government’s evidence related to his innocent ownership, including by showing that he did all that could reasonably be expected under the law. ;
(5)
in subsection (e)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—
(i)
by striking  nonjudicial ; and
(ii)
by striking  a declaration  and inserting  an order ;
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  declaration  and inserting  order ; and
(ii)
by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
(B)
Any proceeding described in subparagraph (A) shall be commenced within 6 months of the entry of the order granting the motion.
 ; and
(C)
by striking paragraph (5);
(6)
in subsection (f)(1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking  (a)  and inserting  (a)(3)(A) ;
(7)
in subsection (g)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking  (a)(4)  and inserting  (a)(3) ; and
(B)
by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
(2)
In making this determination, the court shall consider such factors as—
(A)
the seriousness of the offense;
(B)
the extent of the nexus of the property to the offense;
(C)
the range of sentences available for the offense giving rise to forfeiture;
(D)
the fair market value of the property; and
(E)
the hardship to the property owner and dependents.
 ; and
(8)
by adding at the end the following:
(k)
(1)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law—
(A)
no Federal seizing agency may conduct nonjudicial forfeitures;
(B)
no property may be subject to forfeiture except through judicial process; and
(C)
no order of forfeiture may be entered except by a United States district court.
(2)
In this subsection, the term  nonjudicial forfeiture  means an in rem action that permits the Federal seizing agency to start a forfeiture without judicial involvement.
 .
3.
Disposition of forfeited property
(a)
Revisions to Controlled Substances Act
Section 511(e) of the Controlled Substances Act ( 21 U.S.C. 881(e) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking  civilly or ;
(B)
by striking subparagraph (A); and
(C)
by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (E) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively;
(2)
in paragraph (2)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking  subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1)  and inserting  paragraph (1)(A) ; and
(B)
in subparagraph (B), by striking  accordance with section 524(c) of title 28,  and inserting  the General Fund of the Treasury of the United States ;
(3)
by striking paragraph (3);
(4)
by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (3); and
(5)
in paragraph (3), as redesignated—
(A)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  paragraph (1)(B)  and inserting  paragraph (1)(A) ; and
(B)
in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking  paragraph (1)(B) that is civilly or  and inserting  paragraph (1)(A) that is .
(b)
Revisions to title 18
 Chapter 46  of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in section 981(e)—
(A)
by striking  is authorized  and all that follows through  or forfeiture of the property;  and inserting  shall forward to the Treasurer of the United States any proceeds of property forfeited pursuant to this section for deposit in the General Fund of the Treasury or transfer such property on such terms and conditions as such officer may determine— ;
(B)
by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6), and (7) as paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5), respectively; and
(C)
in the matter following paragraph (5), as so redesignated—
(i)
by striking the first, second, third, sixth, and eighth sentences; and
(ii)
by striking  paragraph (3), (4), or (5)  and inserting  paragraph (1), (2), or (3) ; and
(2)
in section 983(g)—
(A)
in paragraph (3), by striking  grossly ; and
(B)
in paragraph (4), by striking  grossly .
(c)
Tariff Act of 1930
The Tariff Act of 1930 ( 19 U.S.C. 1304 et seq. ) is amended—
(1)
in section 613A(a) ( 19 U.S.C. 1613b(a) )—
(A)
in paragraph (1)—
(i)
in subparagraph (D), by inserting  and  after the semicolon;
(ii)
in subparagraph (E), by striking  ; and  and inserting a period; and
(iii)
by striking subparagraph (F); and
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
by striking  (A) Any payment  and inserting  Any payment ; and
(ii)
by striking subparagraph (B); and
(2)
in section 616 ( 19 U.S.C. 1616a )—
(A)
in the section heading, by striking
Transfer of forfeited property   and inserting
Dismissal in favor of forfeiture under State law  ;
(B)
in subsection (a), by striking  (a) The Secretary  and inserting  The Secretary ; and
(C)
by striking subsections (b) through (d).
(d)
Title 31
Section 9705 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)(1)—
(A)
by striking subparagraph (G); and
(B)
by redesignating subparagraphs (H) through (J) as subparagraphs (G) through (I), respectively; and
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
by striking paragraphs (2) and (4); and
(B)
by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively.
4.
Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund deposits
Section 524(c)(4) of title 28, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
(2)
by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively.
5.
Structuring transactions to evade reporting requirement prohibited
(a)
Amendments to Title 31
Section 5324 of title 31, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting  knowingly  after  Public Law 91–508 ; and
(B)
in paragraph (3), by inserting  of funds not derived from a legitimate source  after  any transaction ;
(2)
in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting  knowingly  after  such section ; and
(3)
in subsection (c), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting  knowingly  after  section 5316 .
(b)
Probable cause hearing in connection with property seizures relating to certain monetary instruments transactions
(1)
Amendment
Section 5317 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
(d)
Probable cause hearing in connection with property seizures relating to certain monetary instruments transactions
(1)
In general
Not later than 14 days after the date on which notice is provided under paragraph (2)—
(A)
a court of competent jurisdiction shall conduct a hearing on any property seized or restrained under subsection (c)(2) with respect to an alleged violation of section 5324; and
(B)
any property described in subparagraph (A) shall be returned unless the court finds that there is probable cause to believe that there is a violation of section 5324 involving the property.
(2)
Notice
Each person from whom property is seized or restrained under subsection (c)(2) with respect to an alleged violation of section 5324 shall be notified of the right of the person to a hearing under paragraph (1).
 .
(2)
Applicability
The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply to property seized or restrained after the date of enactment of this Act.
6.
Reporting requirements
Section 524(c)(6)(A)(i) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting  from each type of forfeiture, and specifically identifying which funds were obtained from including criminal forfeitures and which were obtained from civil forfeitures,  after  deposits .
7.
Applicability
The amendments made by this Act shall apply to—
(1)
any civil forfeiture proceeding pending on or filed on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and
(2)
any amounts received from the forfeiture of property on or after the date of enactment of this Act.