Senate CCJ approves Public Security PEC; text goes to plenary vote

The government sent the Public Security PEC to Congress in April 2025. Opposition governors criticized the text from Palácio do Planalto. They assessed that the proposal reduces the autonomy of states in combating crime.

In March 2026, deputies completed voting on the text in the Chamber. The proposal then went to the senators for analysis. The vote this Wednesday (14) in the Senate Constitution and Justice Committee lasted ten minutes. Only three highlights presented by the opposition PL leadership remained to be voted on. But the senators who were supposed to defend the points were not at the CCJ when the president called the vote. Thus, the government supporters approved the text without any difficulties.

The PEC increases the federal government's participation in public security actions to combat criminal organizations. The text provides for more severe punishments for leaders of criminal factions, who must serve their sentence in a maximum security prison. They will not be able to progress through the regime and will not benefit from the temporary exit, the so-called exit.

The PEC also provides for the State to take, without compensation, assets used in criminal activities; expands the activities of the Federal Highway Police to waterways and railways; places in the Constitution the Unified Public Security System, the Susp, which will integrate the actions of the security forces of the Union, states and municipalities. The proposal also allows for the creation of municipal police forces.

The Security PEC still needs to go through two votes in the Senate plenary. The expectation of those in government is to vote on the proposal before the second round, scheduled for October 25th.