# 119-s-4729: Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act of 2026

119-s-4729, Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (R-AR); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4729
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4729
- Congress: 119
- Title: Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-10
- Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (R-AR)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**Establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences** for crimes involving biological agents and toxins. It targets smuggling, conspiracies to smuggle, and false statements tied to importation or federal authorizations. - People who conspire to smuggle or who smuggle biological agents would face a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison. - People convicted of making false statements to federal officials about smuggling, importation, permits, or declarations involving biological agents would face a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison. - Title 18 would be reorganized to add these explicit minimums and to reference section 178 for the definition of "biological agent or toxin", aiming to close gaps and standardize penalties.

## Provisions PRIA read

- 20-year prison minimum for bio smuggling: cost, high. This bill would create a mandatory minimum prison term of not less than 20 years for anyone convicted of smuggling into the United States, or attempting to smuggle, a biological agent or toxin as defined in section 178. It would also impose the same 20-year minimum when two or more people conspire…
- 5-year minimum for false bio statements: cost, medium. This bill would add a mandatory minimum prison term of not less than 5 years to federal false-statement law when the lie, concealment, or false document relates to smuggling, importation, declaration, permit applications, or any other federal authorization for a biological agent or toxin as defined…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2342: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-4615: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
- 119-s-2142: GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-2010: TERMS Act
- 119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-4729 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4729)

## Related
- [119-s-2342: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2342)
- [119-s-4615: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4615)
- [119-s-2142: GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2142)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-2010: TERMS Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2010)
- [119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-292)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4729 (as of 2026-08-11).