Facial Recognition to Protect Children Act
Sponsored By: Representative Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Introduced
Summary
Facial-recognition age checks to protect children are paired with a wide rewrite of rules for prediction-market "event contracts" to block harmful listings and boost retail safeguards. The bill forces platforms to verify users are 18 or older and strengthens market oversight to protect ordinary participants.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Stronger fund protections and AML checks
If enacted, rules would require customer (member) funds tied to certain event contracts to be segregated from a clearing organization's own funds. Clearing organizations would have to treat fully collateralized customer contracts separately from leveraged contracts when managing defaults. Brokers and trading platforms would have to disclose risks of loss or delays getting funds or assets. Any clearing organization offering event contracts to non-eligible participants would also need an anti-money laundering program, including beneficial-owner checks, ongoing monitoring, and age-verification procedures. The Commission would write implementing rules.
Block harmful event contracts and ads
If enacted, the Commission would be able to bar event contracts it finds contrary to the public interest, including contracts tied to unlawful activity, terrorism, assassination, war, violence, or gambling. The Commission would set criteria for these bans and give at least a 60-day public comment period when adopting them. The bill would also ban misleading or deceptive promotional materials aimed at retail customers and require clear risk disclosures. The Commission would set standard certification and disclosure formats for new event contracts and could impose financial penalties, with appeal rights including Federal court review.
Retail advocate and advisory council
If enacted, the Commission would create an Office of the Retail Advocate to help retail participants resolve major transaction problems and study rule impacts. The Retail Advocate would be appointed by the Chairman and must send an annual report to Congress by September 30. An Ombudsman would be named within 180 days after the first Retail Advocate and would report to the Retail Advocate. The Chairman would also establish a 15-member Advisory Council within 90 days to meet at least every 120 days and report initial findings to Congress within 180 days.
Facial ID age checks for platforms
If enacted, wagering and prediction platforms would have to verify users are over 18 using commercial facial recognition before allowing access, wagers, or orders. Platforms would be allowed to collect only the biometric data reasonably needed for that age check and must delete biometric data not needed for compliance. Violations of the age rule would be treated as unfair or deceptive acts under the Federal Trade Commission Act and the FTC could write rules and enforce penalties. The bill would also add or clarify definitions such as "wager" and "wagering operator" to make who is covered clearer.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]
NJ • R
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Bresnahan, Robert P. [R-PA-8]
PA • R
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1]
NY • R
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4]
AR • R
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov