Protecting Kids from Creeps Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9131
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:08:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Protecting Kids from Creeps Act (H.R. 9131)
Purpose
This bill aims to prevent sex offenders from obtaining children through surrogacy arrangements by prohibiting surrogacy agencies from facilitating such contracts and imposing penalties on involved parties.
Key Provisions
- Criminal Prohibitions: Adds new section 2260B to Chapter 110 of title 18, United States Code.
- Surrogacy agencies acting recklessly face fines and at least 10 years imprisonment; knowing facilitation results in fines and at least 20 years imprisonment.
- Agency employees who knowingly facilitate such agreements face fines and at least 20 years imprisonment.
- Sex offenders who knowingly enter surrogacy agreements face fines and at least 20 years imprisonment.
- Additional Consequences for Agencies: Convicted agencies lose eligibility for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and federal grants.
- Agreement Status: Any surrogacy agreement violating the law is void and unenforceable.
- Civil Enforcement: The Attorney General may seek civil penalties equal to the greater of compensation received or offered for the prohibited conduct.
- Custody Rules: For children born under void agreements, custody is determined by the best interests of the child under the law of the surrogate parent's state of residence, disregarding the surrogacy agreement.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This legislation introduces new federal criminal offenses and penalties specifically targeting surrogacy involving sex offenders, which did not previously exist in this form. It overrides the enforceability of private surrogacy contracts in violation cases and directs state courts to prioritize child best-interest determinations without regard to the agreement.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Requires involvement of the Department of Justice for criminal prosecutions and civil actions; affects IRS determinations on tax-exempt status and federal grant eligibility.
- On Citizens: Restricts sex offenders from participating in surrogacy; may alter family formation options for prospective parents and surrogates; impacts custody outcomes for children born through prohibited arrangements.
- On International Relations: No direct provisions address international aspects, though the law applies to entities in the United States.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Surrogacy agencies and their officers/employees.
- Sex offenders (defined as those required to register under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act).
- Prospective parents and surrogate parents entering agreements.
- Children born via surrogacy.
- Federal agencies including the DOJ and IRS.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill creates strict liability-like elements with mandatory minimum sentences and voids private contracts, potentially raising issues in contract and family law. It links criminal convictions to loss of tax benefits and funding, and shifts custody decisions to state best-interest standards. No constitutional analysis is provided in the bill itself.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (24)
Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large], Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5], Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11], Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-03: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protecting Kids from Creeps Act — issued 2026-06-03 — PDF (5 pages)