New federal crime targets coercion of minors into self-harm and exploitation

What it does

This bill creates a new federal crime (18 U.S.C. § 2422(c)) that punishes anyone who uses interstate commerce or federal jurisdiction to coerce a minor into self-harm, animal cruelty, abusive conduct, or sexually explicit activity. Penalties range from 10 years imprisonment for the base offense to life imprisonment if death results. The bill also updates juvenile delinquency sentencing rules to include this new offense.

Why we flagged it

The bill's sole operative mechanism is the creation of a new federal criminal offense targeting coercion of minors into self-harm, animal cruelty, abuse, and sexual exploitation. It is a straightforward expansion of child-protection criminal law.

What the text implies

• The definition of 'compel' (threat, extortion, blackmail, fraud, deceit, manipulation) is broad and may capture online grooming, sextortion, and coercion via social media—conduct that has grown significantly but was previously prosecuted under older statutes designed before digital platforms existed.
• The statute applies to conduct 'within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States,' extending federal reach to U.S. territories and military installations, potentially closing gaps in state-law coverage.
• Serious bodily injury and death enhancements (20 years and life, respectively) create graduated penalties that may incentivize plea bargains and reduce trial burden on federal prosecutors.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill creates enforceable federal criminal liability for coercing minors into self-harm, animal cruelty, abuse, and sexual exploitation—conduct that was previously prosecutable only under narrower statutes or state law. Minors and their families gain a direct federal remedy and clearer legal protection against a specific harm pattern (coercion via threat, extortion, blackmail, fraud, deceit, or manipulation).

Named in the bill

18 U.S.C. § 2422, 18 U.S.C. § 2256, 18 U.S.C. § 5032, 18 U.S.C. § 48 (animal crushing), U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Where it stands

9 cosponsors: 8 Republicans, 1 Democrats.

• Dec 16, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Dec 16, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary and Senate Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary”
• Dec 18, 2025 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Dec 18, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote”
• Jan 12, 2026 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H632)”
• Jan 12, 2026 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Biggs (AZ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

1 lobbying clients named this bill on 1 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $14,111 in lobbying spend. A filing names 21 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 0% of bills with at least one filing.

Andy Biggs, the sponsor, reported $9,100 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• The Sentencing Project — $14,111 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.