Sponsors (17)
The bill strengthens federal tools to protect minors from online coercion and improves prosecutors' ability to pursue exploiters, but it expands federal power and vague criminal definitions in ways that could raise free‑speech, juvenile‑justice, and cost concerns.
Children and minors: Gain stronger protection from online and offline coercion (including doxxing, swatting, and coercive communications) because federal law explicitly criminalizes such conduct and expands covered offenses, enabling federal prosecutions against exploiters.
Perpetrators of online coercion and exploitation: Face substantially increased criminal penalties (including decades-to-life) and clearer grounds for prosecution, increasing deterrence and the likelihood of accountability.
Law enforcement and prosecutors: Receive clearer statutory definitions, updated terminology (e.g., explicitly 'online') and cross-references to modern offenses (like 2261C and 1591), improving investigators' ability to charge and pursue online child‑exploitation and coercion cases.
Children, families, and the public: Broad and ambiguous definitions (e.g., 'coerce', 'doxxing', or expanded 'child abuse') risk criminalizing borderline or protected speech and raise free‑speech and due‑process concerns.
Taxpayers, state and local governments: Expanding federal criminal liability and adding offenses may shift cases from state to federal courts, increasing federal caseloads and costs for prosecutions and corrections.
Children and families: Including additional federal offenses in juvenile transfer lists may result in more youths being prosecuted in adult federal court, increasing the risk of harsher penalties and long‑term harms to juveniles.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Creates a federal crime prohibiting coercing minors via mail or interstate/online means to self-harm, harm others/animals, commit arson, or perform covered acts (doxxing/swats) and updates related statutes.
Official title: Make coercion of children to commit harm a criminal offense, and for other purposes.
Introduced December 9, 2025 by Charles Ernest Grassley · Last progress December 9, 2025
Creates a new federal crime that makes it unlawful to intentionally coerce a minor (under 18) by mail, online, or other interstate commerce to kill or attempt suicide, kill or injure people or animals, commit arson, or perform other violent acts (including “doxxing” and “swatting” as defined). The bill imposes severe criminal penalties (including life or multi-decade prison terms for the most serious coercion) and updates multiple Title 18 and PROTECT Our Children Act definitions and cross-references to include “online coercion” and the new offense. It also includes a severability clause so surviving provisions remain in force if part is struck down.