Criminal Justice (Human Trafficking) in United States

passed · United States · House Aug 31, 2026

HR 8481: Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026

This bill, known as Kayleigh's Law Act of 2026, requires federal courts to issue permanent restraining orders against defendants convicted of certain serious crimes, prohibiting them from contacting their victims for the rest of their lives. The law applies specifically to individuals convicted of violent felonies or felony offenses involving sexual acts, including crimes like child exploitation and human trafficking. Courts must include these orders in sentencing, and violations are treated as contempt of court, while the only way to lift the order is if the conviction is overturned or pardoned. The bill also ensures that victims cannot be charged any fees for obtaining these protective orders and clarifies that the restrictions apply regardless of state laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Human Trafficking

in committee · United States · House Apr 20, 2026

HRES 1190: Supporting the designation of April 19 through April 25, 2026, as "National Crime Victims' Rights Week".

This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' strong support for designating April 19 through April 25, 2026, as "National Crime Victims' Rights Week." It recognizes the impact of crime on victims and survivors, appreciates organizations that assist them, and encourages continued efforts to support victims' rights and services.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Human Trafficking Victims' Rights

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4260: Child Predators Accountability Act

This bill amends federal child pornography laws to strengthen protections against the sexual exploitation of minors. It requires that laws against importing or depicting children in sexually explicit material apply even when the child did not participate in the conduct, as long as the person intentionally included the child in the image. The changes update legal definitions to ensure that individuals who knowingly place minors in explicit visual depictions face criminal penalties regardless of the minor's actual involvement. These provisions directly affect law enforcement, prosecutors, and individuals involved in the production or distribution of such material. The bill focuses on closing legal gaps in how child exploitation cases are defined and prosecuted under existing federal statutes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 4143: Fair Wages for Incarcerated Workers Act of 2026

This bill would expand the Fair Labor Standards Act to include incarcerated workers, requiring them to receive minimum wage and overtime pay protections. It directly affects individuals working in correctional facilities, whether those facilities are run by public agencies or private contractors. The legislation defines incarcerated workers as people performing work in prisons, including prison industries and work release programs, and clarifies that certain costs like board and lodging or court-imposed fees should not be deducted from their wages. By adding these definitions and protections to the existing law, the bill aims to ensure incarcerated workers are covered under federal labor standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Human Trafficking Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · United States · House Feb 25, 2026

HR 7715: Justice for Allie Act

This bill, known as the Justice for Allie Act, would create a new federal crime for coercing adults with specific disabilities into sending intimate images. It directly affects individuals aged 18 and older who have conditions like autism, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, dementia, or schizophrenia that may limit their ability to protect themselves from exploitation. The law prohibits anyone from using mail or interstate communications to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce these protected adults to transmit intimate visual depictions with the intent to harm them. Penalties include fines and up to one year in prison for a first offense, or up to two years for repeat offenses. The bill defines harm broadly to include physical, psychological, financial, or reputational damage.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking

in committee · United States · Senate Jan 9, 2025

S 52: End Child Trafficking Now Act

End Child Trafficking Now Act This bill imposes restrictions related to adult non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) being admitted into the United States with a minor. Such an adult may not be admitted with a minor unless the adult (1) presents documents and witness testimony proving that the adult is a relative or guardian of the minor, or (2) submits to a DNA test that proves such a relationship. The Department of Homeland Security may request a DNA test only if the required relationship cannot be established by the presented documents and witness testimony. An adult who does not consent to a requested DNA test shall be inadmissible. If the required relationship cannot be established and the immigration officer believes the adult is guilty of a felony offense, the officer may arrest the adult. The bill makes it a crime for an adult to knowingly use a minor to whom the adult is not a relative or guardian to enter the United States.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 5, 2026

S 4006: Fair Housing for Survivors Act of 2026

This bill expands protections under the Fair Housing Act to include survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking as a protected class. It requires landlords and housing providers to treat discrimination against these survivors the same way they treat discrimination based on race or national origin. The legislation also updates definitions to include dating violence, stalking, and threatened violence, and strengthens anti-intimidation provisions to cover coercion related to housing. These changes aim to prevent survivors from being evicted or denied housing due to their status as victims of violence.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Domestic Violence Human Trafficking Tenant Rights

passed · United States · House Sep 3, 2025

HRES 668: Directing the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to continue its ongoing investigation into the possible mismanagement of the Federal government’s investigation of Mr. Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell, and for other purposes.

HRES 668 directs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to continue its investigation into possible mismanagement of the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases, including Epstein’s death and sex trafficking networks. The resolution requires the committee to publicly release unclassified documents related to the investigation - such as communications, travel records, and immunity deals - with limited exceptions for privacy, active cases, or classified national security information. It prohibits withholding documents due to embarrassment or political sensitivity and mandates written justifications for any redactions. This resolution affects the Oversight Committee, federal agencies (like the DOJ and Treasury), and the public seeking transparency. It is procedural, not a new law, focusing on directing an ongoing investigation and document disclosure.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

in committee · United States · House Apr 21, 2026

HR 3756: FISH Act of 2025

The FISH Act of 2025 establishes a public "IUU vessel list" of foreign fishing vessels, fleets, and their beneficial owners engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing or fishing involving forced labor. It prohibits listed vessels from accessing U.S. ports, using U.S. port services, or having their seafood imported into the United States. The bill requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop procedures for adding vessels to the list based on clear evidence, including information from international organizations or U.S. authorities. It also authorizes sanctions against entities involved in IUU fishing or forced labor practices in the fishing industry, aiming to prevent seafood from illegal fishing operations from entering U.S. commerce.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Environment ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

in committee · United States · House Feb 11, 2025

HR 1185: Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act

HR 1185, the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act, authorizes $15 million annually (2026-2029) to fund a federal demonstration project training K-12 school personnel - including teachers, counselors, and administrators - to recognize and respond to signs of human trafficking and exploitation among students. The program prioritizes schools in areas with high trafficking prevalence or vulnerable populations, such as homeless youth, foster youth, and runaways, using evidence-based, age-appropriate curricula developed with survivor input. Approved nonprofit vendors will create training materials, and grantees must collect anonymized data on student risk identification, survivor referrals, and training effectiveness. The initiative aims to expand awareness and prevention efforts in schools nationwide, with annual reports to Congress on program outcomes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking K-12 Education

All criminal justice bills