Preventing Trafficking of Minors Act of 2026

This bill changes the federal law on coercing or enticing minors into sexual activity. It would add new crimes, including paying, offering to pay, or soliciting a minor for a commercial sex act, and entering or staying in a place intending to do so. It states that not knowing the victim's age is not a defense, that force or fraud need not be proven when the victim is a minor, and that it is not a defense if the supposed minor was an undercover officer. It would raise the minimum prison sentence from 10 to 15 years when the minor is under 14. The changes would take effect 180 days after the bill becomes law.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Troy E. Nehls Republican sponsor
• 3 cosponsors