Kids Safety on Set Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
Introduced
Summary
Safer sets for minors. The Kids Safety on Set Act of 2026 would require pre-employment background checks for adults who supervise, have frequent or private contact with, or hold compulsory authority over minors on entertainment projects. The checks would screen only for sex, violence, stalking, and offenses involving minors and must use Live Scan fingerprint clearance or an equivalent FBI check within 90 days before work or before receiving an ownership interest.
Show full summary
- Families and minors: The bill would narrow who can work around child performers by screening for sex, violence, stalking, and offenses involving minors, aiming to reduce risky adults on set.
- Employers and producers: Entertainment entities must pay each check capped at $100 and face civil penalties including fines up to twice the total dollar cost of affected production activity and possible court-ordered halts to production for violations.
- Creators and the press: The law defines "entertainment project" broadly to include live and recorded media and streaming. It excludes entities that solely produce journalism or materials released under a Creative Commons license.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Fines and ownership limits for productions
This bill would let the Attorney General seek civil fines and stop production when a worker violates the background-check rule. Fines could be up to twice the total dollar cost of the production activity involving the violative employee. The Attorney General could get an ex parte temporary restraining order to halt production right away, followed by longer injunctions until the violation is fixed or the worker is fired. A violative person would be barred from holding more than 2% ownership and would permanently lose special investor rights like being physically present on set.
Industry pays capped background fee
This bill would cap each required background check at $100. The entertainment industry entity that hires or engages the person would have to pay the fee. If the actual check costs less, the company would pay the lower amount. The cap would apply to each required check when the bill takes effect.
Background checks for adults on set
This bill would require adults who supervise or have authority over a minor (not their child or legal ward) on an entertainment project to pass a criminal background check. The check would be completed within 90 days before the person's first day of work or before receiving an ownership interest. It would require Live Scan fingerprints or an equivalent FBI background check and would only screen for offenses involving sex, violence, stalking, or minors. The bill would define which projects and roles are covered and would exclude journalism-only entities and works released under a Creative Commons license.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4]
CO • R
Sponsored 9/3/2026
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 9/3/2026
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/3/2026
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 9/14/2026
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov