Preventing Trafficking of Minors Act of 2026

The Preventing Trafficking of Minors Act of 2026 strengthens federal laws against exploiting individuals under 18 by expanding the definition of prohibited conduct to include engaging in or soliciting commercial sex acts with minors. It removes the legal requirement to prove force, fraud, or coercion when the victim is a minor and establishes that a defendant's lack of knowledge about the victim's age is not a valid defense if they had a reasonable opportunity to observe them. The bill also clarifies that law enforcement officers posing as minors cannot use this as a defense against prosecution and increases the minimum prison sentence to 15 years for offenses involving victims under 14. These changes apply to actions taken 180 days after the law is enacted.