James T. Woods Act
Official title: To prohibit threats to a minor, and for other purposes.
What Do You Think?
How would you vote?
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What Happened in Congress?
January 12, 2026
- HousePassed by voice vote
Where the Bill Stands
- Introduced, done
- Committee, done
- Floor Vote, done
- Outcome, current stage
What This Bill Does
This bill expands the federal framework for combating the online exploitation of children. Among its provisions, the bill establishes new criminal offenses, expands reporting requirements, and facilitates the prosecution and sentencing of offenders.
TITLE I, SAFE ACT
Sentencing Accountability For Exploitation Act or the SAFE Act
This title directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend its guidelines and policy statements applicable to federal criminal offenses involving the production, receipt, transport, shipment, or distribution of child sexual abuse material to (1) account for the actual and potential harm from the offense and changes since the last amendments with respect to the typical offense behavior and modern technologies, and (2) better reflect the spectrum of offender culpability.
TITLE II, ENDING COERCION OF CHILDREN AND HARM ONLINE
Ending Coercion of Children and Harm Online Act or the ECCHO Act
This title establishes a federal framework to combat the online coercion of minors to commit harm. The title creates new criminal offenses, expands reporting of instances involving the online coercion of minors, facilitates the prosecution of offenders, and expands protections for minors who testify in court.
TITLE III, STOP SEXTORTION
Stop Sextortion Act
This title criminalizes threats to distribute child sexual abuse material to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress. This practice is commonly referred to as sextortion. The title also increases criminal penalties for related offenses that involve the use of child sexual abuse material to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress.
Sponsors
Related Documents
Timeline
- SenateCommittee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- SenateCommittee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- SenateReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- House floor actionsMs. Lee (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Passed the House
- House committee actionsCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Library of CongressIntroduced in House
- House floor actionsReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced
- Committee




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