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BADGES for Native Communities Act
12/12/2025, 11:05 PM
Summary of Bill S 390
The bill mandates that the Department of Justice, in consultation with tribal governments, develop guidelines for Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies to use when responding to cases of missing or murdered Indigenous people. These guidelines are intended to improve coordination and communication between agencies and ensure that cases are properly investigated and resolved.
Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Justice to submit an annual report to Congress on the number of missing and murdered Indigenous individuals in the United States, as well as the efforts being made to address these cases. This report will help to raise awareness of the issue and track progress in addressing it. Overall, Bill 119 s 390 is a step towards addressing the alarming rates of missing and murdered Indigenous people in the United States. By requiring Federal law enforcement agencies to report on these cases and develop guidelines for responding to them, the bill aims to improve the outcomes for Indigenous individuals who have gone missing or been murdered.
Congressional Summary of S 390
Bridging Agency Data Gaps and Ensuring Safety for Native Communities Act or the BADGES for Native Communities Act
This bill revises federal policies and procedures related to information sharing, reporting, and investigating cases of missing, unidentified, or murdered Indians.
Among other elements, the bill requires the Department of Justice to (1) establish a grant program for specified entities (e.g., tribes) to implement changes to enhance their responses to missing person cases and death investigations of interest to tribes, and (2) work with the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that federal training resources and culturally appropriate mental health and wellness programs are available to tribal and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement officers.
The Department of the Interior must establish a five-year demonstration program for the purpose of conducting or adjudicating personnel background investigations for applicants for law enforcement positions in the BIA.
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct specified studies, including a study on the evidence collection, handling, response times, and processing procedures and practices of federal law enforcement agencies.
