Child Predators Accountability Act
This bill amends U.S. Code sections 2251(a), 2260(a), and 2256 to clarify and strengthen laws against child sexual exploitation. It explicitly adds "or be depicted engaging in" to definitions of sexual exploitation and sexually explicit depictions involving minors, making it a crime to distribute material showing minors in such conduct - even if the minor did not physically participate. The law directly affects prosecutors, defendants accused of distributing child sexual abuse material, and minors depicted in such images. The key change ensures that intentionally including minors in sexually explicit visual depictions (via photos or videos) is prosecutable under existing federal law.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Jan 2026
House Passage
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
President
Introduced Dec 15, 2025
Last action Jan 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced in House
→
Engrossed in House
·
2 edits
·
Jan 12, 2026
MINOR
The bill moved from introduction to engrossment with only a minor change: the year 'of 2025' was removed from the short title. All other changes are formatting adjustments (indentation and spacing). The substantive legal provisions remain unchanged.
TECHNICAL
Removed 'of 2025' from the short title, changing it from 'Child Predators Accountability Act of 2025' to 'Child Predators Accountability Act.' This is a standard practice as bills advance through committee.
Formatting and whitespace adjustments throughout the bill (indentation, blank lines between sections) with no change to legal substance.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
11
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Amendments
2
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
upper
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H630)
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H630)
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
Mr. Harris (NC) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
lower
Dec 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
lower
Dec 15, 2025
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
lower
Dec 15, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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