Congress criminalizes sex offenders using surrogacy to obtain children

What it does

This bill makes it a federal crime for surrogacy agencies to knowingly or recklessly facilitate surrogacy agreements involving registered sex offenders, with penalties of 10–20 years imprisonment depending on intent. It also criminalizes sex offenders entering such agreements, voids any resulting surrogacy contracts, and strips convicted agencies of tax-exempt status and federal funding eligibility.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is to criminalize and prevent sex offenders from obtaining parental rights through surrogacy. It is a straightforward public-safety measure with clear enforcement mechanisms and no hidden provisions.

What the text implies

• Surrogacy agencies will face significant compliance costs to verify sex-offender status of all parties, potentially raising surrogacy costs for legitimate families.
• The bill does not address how agencies should verify sex-offender status across state lines or international contexts, creating potential enforcement gaps.
• Void surrogacy agreements may create custody disputes and legal uncertainty for children born under now-unenforceable contracts, requiring state-level best-interests determinations.
• The definition of 'sex offender' ties to federal registration requirements, meaning individuals convicted under state law but not federally registered may fall outside the prohibition.

Who it affects

The bill protects children from potential abuse by preventing registered sex offenders from obtaining parental rights through surrogacy. Ordinary citizens—particularly vulnerable children—benefit from a clear legal barrier and enforcement mechanism. The cost is narrow: surrogacy agencies must conduct background checks, and sex offenders lose access to one pathway to parenthood, a restriction aligned with public safety.

Named in the bill

surrogacy agencies, sex offenders, Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, Internal Revenue Code section 501, U.S. Attorney General, U.S. District Courts

Where it stands

30 cosponsors: 30 Republicans.

• Jun 3, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Jun 3, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary”

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