FAMILIES Act

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 18, 2020

Finding Alternatives to Mass Incarceration: Lives Improved by Ending Separation Act of 2020 or the FAMILIES Act

This bill establishes and provides funds for a program to divert eligible individuals (e.g., parents of minor children and caregivers) from a term of imprisonment or probation into comprehensive support services (e.g., education, jobs, in-home parenting, and substance abuse treatment programs). Additionally, the bill provides funds for the training of district court judges, a study on the effects of incarceration on children of incarcerated parents, and grants to states for parenting sentencing alternative programs.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] · D–WA

Committees

Judiciary Committee

5 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Nov 18, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 18, 2020
Introduced in House
Nov 18, 2020
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Nov 18, 2020 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.8774 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.8774, 116th Congress: FAMILIES Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8774

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-11-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr8774/BILLS-116hr8774ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T19:24:01Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.8774 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.8774 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.8774, 116th Congress: FAMILIES Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8774

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-11-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr8774/BILLS-116hr8774ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T19:24:01Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.8774 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.8774 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.8774, 116th Congress: FAMILIES Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8774

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-11-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr8774/BILLS-116hr8774ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T19:24:01Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.8774 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.8774 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.8774, 116th Congress: FAMILIES Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8774

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-11-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr8774/BILLS-116hr8774ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-05T19:24:01Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.8774 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.