GRACIE Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]
Introduced
Summary
Requires states to record and retain all child-welfare interviews for up to five years. It would create a federal grant program to help state child welfare agencies pay for recording, storage, and related systems and set rules for who may access the recordings.
Show full summary
- Families and caregivers gain access to interview recordings for judicial proceedings unless a court orders otherwise, and recordings must be kept at least 5 years.
- State child welfare agencies could receive grants to cover costs tied directly to recording and retention, and must apply describing their lead agency, current rules, challenges, and planned use of funds.
- Investigators and prosecutors may get copies for related investigations or prosecutions subject to court limits, and states must store recordings with secure access controls and face penalties for improper release.
*Would authorize up to $30.0 million per year from Title IV-B appropriations for fiscal years 2026–2031 to fund the grants, increasing federal outlays to the extent those funds are used.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Recorded child welfare interviews for families
If enacted, this bill would let HHS give states up to $30 million per year from 2026 through 2031. The money would pay only for recording and keeping child welfare interviews, including initial family-assessment interviews when practicable. States getting grants would need a law, policy, or practice requiring all child welfare interviews be recorded and kept for at least five years with secure access controls. Recordings would generally be released only to government investigators, but a caregiver or guardian could get a copy for a court case unless a judge orders otherwise, and HHS could audit grant use.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]
MO • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/9/2026
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/9/2026
Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]
UT • R
Sponsored 4/9/2026
Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
UT • R
Sponsored 4/9/2026
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
CA • R
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov