Brazil's Chamber of Deputies approved the Public Security Constitutional Amendment Proposal on the night of March 4, 2026, with 461 votes in favor and 14 against in the second round. The text, which provides funding through bets and the pre-salt social fund, heads to the Senate after negotiations that removed a plebiscite on reducing the age of criminal majority. The approval reflects dialogue between the government, the rapporteur, and the House president.
Brazil's Chamber of Deputies approved the Public Security PEC in two rounds on the night of March 4, 2026. In the first round, it received 487 votes in favor, 15 against, and one abstention; in the second, 461 in favor and 14 against. The text now proceeds to the Senate for review.
Rapporteur Deputy Mendonça Filho (União-PE) was persuaded by Chamber President Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB) to remove a referendum on reducing the age of criminal majority from the proposal to avoid rejection in the Senate. “We recognized that President Hugo's proposal is valid. We could not jeopardize all the work done so far. The PEC could be approved here, but it would die in the Federal Senate,” said Mendonça Filho.
Hugo Motta emphasized dialogue as key to approval: “Violence is, according to Brazilians themselves, the country's biggest problem. And today this house delivers a firm response to the growing criminality.”
Key provisions include constitutionalizing the Unified Public Security System (Susp), expanding Federal Police powers to investigate militias and criminal organizations, allowing municipal police creation from civil guards, and including socio-educational agents in the system. For funding, it allocates 30% of betting revenues to the National Public Security Fund and National Penitentiary Fund after deductions, expecting R$500 million to R$1.5 billion annually. It also allocates 10% of the pre-salt social fund surplus to security funds, gradually starting in 2027, potentially generating R$6 to 8 billion by 2029.
The text authorizes laws for harsher sanctions against high-danger criminal organizations, including factions and militias, and crimes against women, children, and adolescents. It prohibits budgetary blocks on funds and ensures 50% transfers to states and municipalities.
The 14 deputies who voted against in the second round were mostly from PSOL: Capitão Augusto (PL-SP), Célia Xakriabá (PSOL-MG), Chico Alencar (PSOL-RJ), Erika Hilton (PSOL-SP), Fernanda Melchionna (PSOL-RS), Heloísa Helena (Rede-RJ), Ivan Valente (PSOL-SP), Juliana Cardoso (PT-SP), Luiza Erundina (PSOL-SP), Pastor Henrique Vieira (PSOL-RJ), Professora Luciene (PSOL-SP), Sâmia Bomfim (PSOL-SP), Tarcísio Motta (PSOL-RJ), and Túlio Gadêlha (Rede-PE).
Opposition leader Cabo Gilberto Silva (PL-PB) viewed the PEC as progress but insufficient for demands like a national police salary floor. Government leader José Guimarães (PT-PE) celebrated: “This proposal from our government is one that today is consecrated as victorious and is the fruit of the President's courage.”
