Combating Online Predators Act
Sponsored By: Representative Lee (FL)
Passed House
Summary
Makes threats to share sexual images of minors a federal crime. It expands 18 U.S.C. §2252A and §2252 to cover knowingly sending or offering a threat to distribute a visual depiction of a minor or a person the defendant believes is a minor, when the intent is to induce creation or transmission of sexually explicit images across interstate or foreign commerce.
Show full summary
- Gives minors and their families new legal protection against online coercion by making threats to disseminate sexual images a prosecutable offense.
- Expands criminal liability for offenders by treating threats the same way as some other child exploitation acts even if no image was actually distributed, and by covering cases where the target is believed to be a minor.
- Helps prosecutors by adding a new offense clause in §2252A and a cross-reference in §2252 so threats sent across state or international lines can be charged under existing child exploitation statutes.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New federal crime for child sextortion
This bill would make it a federal crime to threaten to share sexual images of a minor. It would also cover threats about someone the sender believes is a minor. The rule would apply when the threat is sent in or affects interstate or foreign commerce, including online. It would apply when the goal is to make the minor create or send a sexual image. If enacted, it would take effect upon enactment and help prosecutors charge these threats.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lee (FL)
FL • R
Cosponsors
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 1/9/2026
Gillen
NY • D
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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