119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 7715

Justice for Allie Act

Introduced

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill, the Justice for Allie Act, adds a new crime to federal law – the sexual exploitation of protected adults. It specifically prohibits coercing individuals who are vulnerable due to conditions like autism, intellectual disabilities, or dementia to send or transmit intimate visual depictions with the intent to cause harm. The act establishes penalties for both first and subsequent offenses, including fines and imprisonment.

Key provisions

Creates a new federal crime: sexual exploitation of protected adults.
Defines ‘protected adult’ as individuals 18 or older with specific disabilities (autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, neurocognitive disorder, dementia, or psychosis).
Prohibits coercion to send or transmit intimate visual depictions.
The offense carries penalties of up to 1 year imprisonment for a first offense and up to 2 years imprisonment for subsequent offenses.
‘Harm’ is defined broadly to include physical, psychological, financial, and reputational damage.
The law applies to depictions sent through mail or other interstate/foreign commerce.
References the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International Classification of Diseases for definitions.

Who is affected

Individuals with disabilities (autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, neurocognitive disorder, dementia, or psychosis).

Positions across the country

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Legislative history

2026-02-25House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

2026-02-25

Introduced in House

2026-02-25

Introduced in House

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Feb 25, 2026XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 2d Session

H. R. 7715

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit coercing protected adults to send or otherwise transmit an intimate visual depiction, and for other purposes.

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Justice for Allie Act

2.Sexual exploitation of protected adults

(a)In generalChapter 109A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

2245A.Sexual exploitation of protected adults

(a)OffenseWhoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any protected adult to send or otherwise transmit an intimate visual depiction (as such term is defined in section 1309 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (15 U.S.C. 6851)) with the intent to harm such protected adult, or attempts to do so—

(1)

in the case of a first offense under this section, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both; or

(2)in the case of a second or subsequent offense under this section, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.

(b)DefinitionIn this section:

(1)

The term protected adult means an individual who is 18 years of age or older and who is unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect, or exploitation at the time of offense, due to one or more of the following:

(A)Autism spectrum disorder (as such term is defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, as of the date of the commission of the offense).

(B)Intellectual developmental disorder (as such term is defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, as of the date of the commission of the offense) or an intellectual disability (as such term is defined in the edition of the International Classification of Diseases most recently adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services, as of the date of the commission of the offense).

(C)Cerebral palsy (as such term is defined in the edition of the International Classification of Diseases most recently adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services, as of the date of the commission of the offense).

(D)Down syndrome (as such term is defined in the edition of the International Classification of Diseases most recently adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services, as of the date of the commission of the offense).

(E)Major neurocognitive disorder (as such term is defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, as of the date of the commission of the offense).

(F)Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease (as such terms are defined in the edition of the International Classification of Diseases most recently adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services, as of the date of the commission of the offense).

(G)Schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder (as such term is defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, as of the date of the commission of the offense).

(2)The term harm means any harm, whether physical, psychological, financial, or reputational harm.

(b)Clerical amendment

The table of sections for chapter 109A of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item related to section 2245 the following:

2245A. Sexual exploitation of protected adults.

HR 7715

Bill overview

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