Sponsors (10)
The bill strengthens federal tools and penalties to protect minors from interstate coercive abuse, but it expands federal criminal jurisdiction and uses broad language that may increase prosecutorial discretion, affect how youth are prosecuted, and raise costs and civil‑liberty concerns.
Children and youth: the bill makes it a federal crime to coerce a minor via the mail or interstate commerce to self-harm, perform sexual acts, or engage in other abusive acts, increasing legal protection for minors.
Federal law enforcement and prosecutors: the bill clarifies and expands federal authority to pursue offenders across state lines, improving coordination and the likelihood of prosecution for interstate coercive harms against minors.
Children and potential perpetrators: the bill raises penalties (up to 20 years for serious bodily injury, up to life if death) for severe coercive harms to minors, strengthening deterrence and potential punishment for the most serious offenses.
Children, families, and defendants: federalizing many offenses involving minors could shift cases into federal juvenile jurisdiction and expose youth to different—and potentially harsher—federal sentencing frameworks or prosecutorial approaches.
Defendants, parents, and families: vague terms in the bill like 'manipulation' and 'abusive or degrading nonsexual conduct' may create legal uncertainty and expand prosecutorial discretion, risking uneven application and potential over-criminalization.
Taxpayers and federal agencies: expanding federal jurisdiction over conduct traditionally handled by states could increase federal caseloads and prosecution costs, shifting expenses to federal taxpayers and resources.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes it a federal crime to intentionally compel a minor via interstate means to self-harm, commit animal crushing, commit abusive criminal acts, or engage in sexually explicit conduct, with increased penalties for serious injury or death.
Creates a new federal crime for intentionally compelling a minor, by mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce (including online), or within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, to harm themselves, commit animal crushing, engage in abusive nonsexual conduct that could be criminal, or engage in sexually explicit conduct. Penalties range from up to 10 years in prison (and fines) to up to 20 years if serious bodily injury results, and up to life if the conduct causes the minor's death. The bill also updates federal juvenile delinquency jurisdiction to include this new offense.
Introduced December 16, 2025 by Andrew S. Biggs · Last progress January 13, 2026