A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Human Trafficking Survivor Tax Relief Act," aims to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. It seeks to exclude certain monetary awards from an individual's gross income. Specifically, it targets money received as restitution or civil damages resulting from trafficking in persons. This includes awards made under specific sections of Title 18 of the United States Code. The changes would apply to taxable years beginning after the act is enacted.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill provides direct financial relief to survivors by preventing the taxation of their compensatory awards.
- Scored +5
Does this cut taxes for middle-income families?
The bill excludes restitution and civil damages from trafficking survivors from being taxed as gross income.
- Scored +4
Would women be better off under this?
The bill provides financial relief to trafficking survivors, a demographic that includes a high proportion of women.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Tax Relief for Survivors: Under Section 2(a), gross income would not include civil damages, restitution, or other monetary awards received as recompense for trafficking in persons. This provides a benefit by ensuring that compensatory or statutory damages and criminal restitution are not taxed as income.
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Protection of Mandatory Restitution: The bill specifically includes restitution imposed in a criminal matter pursuant to section 1593 of title 18, United States Code. This ensures that survivors receiving mandatory court-ordered money are not burdened by taxes on those funds.
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Protection of Civil Damages: The bill includes awards received in actions under section 1595 of title 18, United States Code. This protects individuals seeking civil recourse from having their damages reduced by tax obligations.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides direct financial relief to survivors by preventing the taxation of their compensatory awards. Would women be better off under this? — The bill provides financial relief to trafficking survivors, a demographic that includes a high proportion of women. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides financial protections for trafficking survivors, a demographic that includes many Hispanic individuals.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill ensures that survivors retain a higher percentage of their restitution and damages to assist in their recovery. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — By providing tax relief to trafficking survivors, the bill supports a group that disproportionately includes marginalized communities.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this cut taxes for middle-income families? — The bill excludes restitution and civil damages from trafficking survivors from being taxed as gross income.
- 11/20/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Jodey ArringtonRepublican · Texas
Blake MooreRepublican · Utah
Terri SewellDemocrat · Alabama