PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator John Cornyn
In Committee
Summary
Strengthens the National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program. It would reauthorize and modernize the PROTECT Our Children Act, require a national strategy every four years, expand covered partners, and update training, data, and grant rules.
Show full summary
- Families and children: Prioritizes investigations most likely to rescue victims and requires program reporting to include the number of child victims identified.
- Law enforcement and ICAC task forces: Expands covered partners to include Tribal and military law enforcement, mandates proactive digital forensics and prosecution support, requires effectiveness assessments, and creates narrow liability protections for personnel.
- Providers and data: Expands provider reporting to include all supplemental data elements and makes the national ICAC data system optional while increasing representation and oversight.
*Would authorize $70 million for FY2026, $80 million for FY2027, and $90 million for FY2028, increasing federal spending for ICAC grants and related activities.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
More funding and grants for ICAC
If enacted, the bill would authorize $70 million for FY2026, $80 million for FY2027, and $90 million for FY2028 for the ICAC program. It would require at least 20% of appropriated ICAC funds go to the ICAC Task Force Program for training, technology, research, wellness, and support for OJJDP training. Grantees would have to report the number of child victims identified. The bill would also require evaluations of funded task forces and expand duties to include proactive work, digital forensics, and support for prosecutions.
National child exploitation strategy changes
If enacted, the bill would require the National Strategy for Child Exploitation every four years instead of every two. The Strategy must analyze trends and technology impacts, set goals and solutions, describe interagency and public-private coordination, and estimate resources needed for each ICAC task force and specified Federal agencies. It must also review training, investigative and prosecutorial activity, and CyberTipline and trafficking data.
More reporting required for providers
If enacted, the bill would require providers who file reports under 18 U.S.C. 2258A to include all supplemental data elements with each report. The change would take effect upon enactment. This would increase reporting and data-handling obligations for online platforms and similar providers.
New ICAC roles, data, and partnerships
If enacted, the bill would expand ICAC task force goals to include identifying child victims and prioritizing investigations likely to lead to rescues. It would add Tribal and military law enforcement plus partners like probation, child advocacy centers, and child protective services. The bill would let agencies continue existing task forces as well as form new ones. It would strike the Title that authorized additional Regional Computer Forensic Labs and make the National ICAC Data System optional while changing representation rules. A targeted subparagraph would change from 'may' to 'shall' to make one action mandatory.
Legal protections for ICAC prioritization
If enacted, the bill would bar most civil and criminal claims against ICAC task forces and participating personnel over prioritization decisions about leads. Exceptions would still allow claims for intentional misconduct, actual malice, gross negligence or reckless disregard for causing physical injury, or acts unrelated to duties. The provision would not create a new basis for liability and would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
John Cornyn
TX • R
Cosponsors
Richard Blumenthal
CT • D
Sponsored 2/12/2025
Marsha Blackburn
TN • R
Sponsored 2/12/2025
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 2/12/2025
Josh Hawley
MO • R
Sponsored 2/12/2025
Richard Durbin
IL • D
Sponsored 2/12/2025
Ashley Moody
FL • R
Sponsored 5/13/2025
Chuck Grassley
IA • R
Sponsored 5/19/2025
Christopher Coons
DE • D
Sponsored 5/19/2025
Mazie Hirono
HI • D
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Jon Ossoff
GA • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Bill Cassidy
LA • R
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Catherine Cortez Masto
NV • D
Sponsored 7/29/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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