Deborah Ross (D-NC)
Closing Bankruptcy Loopholes for Child Predators Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
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 "Closing Bankruptcy Loopholes for Child Predators Act of 2026," aims to amend title 11 of the United States Code regarding bankruptcy proceedings. It specifically targets the misuse of bankruptcy in cases involving the sexual abuse of a child. The legislation introduces new definitions for sexual abuse of a child and establishes requirements for victim impact statements. It also mandates the use of independent forensic accountants for certain non-profit debtors. Additionally, the bill changes rules regarding third-party releases and the discharge of debts. Finally, it places restrictions on certain bankruptcy filings related to these specific claims.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +5
Would children be better off under this?
The bill provides specific legal and financial protections for victims of child sexual abuse in bankruptcy contexts.
- Scored +3
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill increases transparency by prohibiting the sealing of evidence related to alleged crimes of child sexual abuse in bankruptcy proceedings.
- Scored +1
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill assists victims in seeking compensation that might otherwise be blocked by bankruptcy discharges.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Engagement for Victims: The bill requires courts to hold a conference within 60 days of the claim deadline to consider victim impact statements, intended to increase engagement and understanding between the court and survivors (Section 2, amending section 1109).
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Protection of Victim Information: The bill ensures that court orders cannot seal evidence of alleged crimes related to child sexual abuse, except to protect the identity and personal information of the person alleging the abuse (Section 2, amending section 107 and Rule 9018).
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Enhanced Financial Oversight: For non-profit organizations (501(c)(3)) involved in these cases, the court must hire an independent forensic accountant to review assets and interests to ensure they are properly included in the estate (Section 2, amending section 541).
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Greater Control Over Releases: In specific reorganization cases, a third-party release cannot be approved without the affirmative consent of both the debtor and at least ninety percent of the voting creditors (Section 2, amending section 524(g)(2)(B)).
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Timely Claims: Claims relating to the sexual abuse of a child will be considered timely filed regardless of applicable state statutes of limitation (Section 2, amending section 1111).
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Prevention of Debt Discharge: Debtors who were directly responsible for or acted with gross negligence regarding the sexual abuse of a minor will not be able to receive a discharge of those specific debts (Section 2, amending section 523(a)(20)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restrictions on Evidence Use: To encourage honesty, information provided in victim impact statements cannot be used as evidence by any person in the case (Section 2, amending section 1109).
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Increased Requirements for Debtors: In Chapter 11 reorganization cases related to these allegations, debtors are required to attend examinations and produce documents or electronically stored information (Section 3, amending Rule 2004).
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 children be better off under this? — The bill provides specific legal and financial protections for victims of child sexual abuse in bankruptcy contexts. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill assists victims in seeking compensation that might otherwise be blocked by bankruptcy discharges. Would women be better off under this? — The bill provides legal recourse for survivors of sexual abuse, a demographic that disproportionately includes women.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill increases transparency by prohibiting the sealing of evidence related to alleged crimes of child sexual abuse in bankruptcy proceedings.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By ensuring victims of abuse can seek financial recourse through more stringent bankruptcy rules, it may help mitigate the financial impact of trauma. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill focuses on the specific protections and financial recourse for victims of child sexual abuse regardless of race.
- 4/29/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Monica De La CruzRepublican · Texas
Emilia SykesDemocrat · Ohio
Claudia TenneyRepublican · New York