The Local Access to Courts Act (LACA) adds College Station, Texas, and El Centro, California, as new locations where court proceedings can be held within their respective federal court districts. This aims to improve access to the judicial system for residents in these areas.
S. 32 was introduced in the 119th Congress by Ted Cruz (Republican) and is currently listed as “Enacted — Signed by President”. It is classified under the Law policy area, one of 59 bills in that area we track this Congress.
Ted Cruz is the sponsor of 27 bills in our database this Congress, so S. 32 is part of a broader legislative agenda rather than a one-off proposal.
The most significant recorded vote (House, August 31, 2026) ended 378–10.
Our conflict-of-interest analysis rates S. 32 2/10 (low risk), higher than 76% of analyzed bills; the average in Law is 2.1/10.
Supporters of the LACA have highlighted its potential to enhance local access to the judicial system, making it easier for residents in College Station and El Centro to attend court proceedings without having to travel long distances. This has been praised as a step towards improving community engagement with the legal system.
Critics of the LACA argue that adding new court locations may lead to increased administrative costs and logistical challenges for the judicial system. Some have expressed concerns about whether the benefits of improved access outweigh the potential complications of managing additional court sites.
The analysis of Bill S. 32, sponsored by Ted Cruz, reveals no direct industry overlaps between the bill's subject matter and the sponsor's top donor industries. Cruz's top donor industries include Health Professionals, contributing a significant $1,080,000,000, and Retired individuals, contributing $337,500,000. However, since there are no overlapping interests identified with the bill's content, the potential for conflicts of interest appears minimal. This suggests that the financial support Cruz receives from these industries is unlikely to influence the legislation directly. Voters should be aware that while large donations can raise questions about influence, the absence of direct connections in this case indicates a lower risk of conflicts.
Top industries funding Ted Cruz, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
Source: GovTrack.us roll call vote data.
What does S. 32 do?
The Local Access to Courts Act (LACA) adds College Station, Texas, and El Centro, California, as new locations where court proceedings can be held within their respective federal court districts. This aims to improve access to the judicial system for residents in these areas.
How did Congress vote on S. 32?
The most significant recorded vote (House, August 31, 2026) ended 378–10.
Does S. 32 have a conflict of interest?
Our conflict-of-interest analysis rates S. 32 2/10 (low risk), higher than 76% of analyzed bills; the average in Law is 2.1/10. This score reflects overlap between the sponsor’s campaign funding, lobbying activity, and the industries the bill affects. It is a transparency indicator, not an accusation.
What is the status of S. 32?
S. 32 is currently “Enacted — Signed by President” as of our last update on September 18, 2026.
Who sponsored S. 32?
S. 32 was sponsored by Ted Cruz (Republican).
