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119-hr-7624119th CongressWALLET

Safe Shelters for Survivors Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

Introduced

Summary

Blocks registered sex offenders from federally funded domestic violence and homeless shelters. This bill would bar people who must register on the National Sex Offender Registry from entering or using services at domestic violence or homeless shelters that receive federal funds, and it makes those shelters ineligible for federal funds for the following fiscal year if they admit such a person.

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  • Families and survivors: Domestic violence survivors and people experiencing homelessness would use shelters that cannot admit registered sex offenders. That changes who can access federally funded emergency housing.
  • Shelters and providers: A "covered shelter" is a domestic violence or homeless shelter that receives federal funds. Covered shelters that admit a covered sex offender would lose eligibility for Federal funds during the next fiscal year. The ban on offender use takes effect 180 days after enactment. Shelters may direct covered sex offenders to non-covered shelters and remind them of the prohibition.
  • People required to register and enforcement: Covered sex offenders would be barred from covered shelters except to request information about non-covered shelters. If they enter, they must tell the shelter operator they are required to register on the National Sex Offender Registry. Violations in or affecting interstate commerce carry penalties under federal criminal law of fines, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Barring sex offenders from federal shelters

This bill would bar people who must register on the National Sex Offender Registry from entering or using domestic violence or homeless shelters that get Federal funds. The rule would take effect 180 days after enactment. A registrant could enter only to ask about shelters that do not get Federal funds and must immediately tell the shelter operator they are required to register. Federally funded shelters that give services to such registrants would lose eligibility for any Federal funds the following fiscal year. A registrant who knowingly breaks the entry or notification rule in or affecting interstate commerce could face a fine, up to 5 years in jail, or both.

Definitions for who the rules cover

This bill would define who is covered by the shelter rules. "Covered sex offender" would mean someone required to register under 34 U.S.C. 20913. "Covered shelter" would mean a domestic violence or homeless shelter that receives Federal funds. The bill would also define "non-covered shelter," "homeless shelter," and name the National Sex Offender Registry and the cross-referenced federal definitions it uses.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]

SC • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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