The Stop Body Camera Paywalls Act would prohibit states and local governments from charging the public to access police body camera footage, dash camera recordings, jail surveillance video, and other law enforcement camera recordings. To receive federal funding through two major grant programs—the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants and the COPS grant program—states and local governments would be required to certify that they do not impose any fees or financial costs on the public seeking to view or obtain copies of this footage, including court-related fees. This means that any jurisdiction currently using these federal grants would lose their funding eligibility if they continue charging for access to law enforcement camera videos. The legislation directly affects police departments, sheriffs' offices, and other law enforcement agencies that receive these federal grants, as well as the public, which would gain free access to these recordings. By tying federal grant money to this requirement, the bill aims to ensure transparency in law enforcement across the country without financial barriers to the public.
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