A Democratic bill with 15 Democratic cosponsors · See all 15 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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
The "Let Kids Play Act" aims to prohibit vulture investors from investing in youth sports entities. It defines vulture investors as certain private equity funds that engage in harmful practices or oversee entities that frequently face bankruptcy. The bill prohibits specific practices such as consolidating control through roll-up strategies, imposing junk fees, or restricting competition. It establishes a system for designating firms as vulture investors and provides a process for certification to rebut such designations. Furthermore, the Act outlines strict divestiture requirements, legal remedies, and the creation of a Youth Sports Fund.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +8
Would children be better off under this?
The bill protects children by preventing predatory financial practices and ensuring safer sports environments.
- Scored +8
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill prohibits junk fees, hidden charges, and restrictive exclusivity terms for consumers.
- Scored +7
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill prohibits the transfer of athlete biometric, performance, or family financial data to covered firms.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection from Unfair Fees: The bill prohibits the imposition of "junk fees" or hidden charges that are mandatory, excessive, or not clearly disclosed, which protects families from unexpected costs during registration (Section 3(b)(4)).
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Preservation of Competition and Choice: It prevents investors from using exclusivity requirements or non-compete clauses that limit a participant's ability to join competing tournaments or use different technology platforms (Section 3(b)(5)).
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Data and Privacy Protections: The Act prohibits covered firms from claiming or transferring intellectual property rights to athlete biometrics, performance data, or family financial records (Section 3(b)(6)).
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Financial Stability for Sports Entities: By prohibiting practices that convert entities into high-risk businesses through job cuts or reduced quality, the bill aims to protect the operational integrity of sports organizations (Section 2(13)(E)).
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Community Reinvestment: The creation of a Youth Sports Fund allows money collected from legal actions to be used for reducing participation costs, supporting free community access, and increasing scholarships (Section 8).
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Accountability for Safety and Labor: The bill holds investors jointly and severally liable for legal judgments and safety infractions, including child safety and labor violations (Section 7).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Strict Liability and High Penalties for Certification: Individuals executing certifications face strict liability for material misstatements, including a civil penalty of at least $1,000,000 and potential criminal penalties such as fines or imprisonment (Section 4(c)).
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Mandatory Divestiture Requirements: The Act requires vulture investors to unwind ownership stakes and return assets, which could involve complex legal processes and the removal of management personnel (Section 5(a)).
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Potential Economic Disruptions via Divestiture: The government reserves the right to block divestitures if they are determined to harm competition or result in financial insolvency (Section 5(b)(5)).
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 protects children by preventing predatory financial practices and ensuring safer sports environments. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill aims to reduce participation costs and increase scholarships through the Youth Sports Fund. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill protects families from excessive junk fees and mandatory hidden charges.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill prohibits junk fees, hidden charges, and restrictive exclusivity terms for consumers. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill protects smaller youth sports entities from predatory consolidation and roll-up strategies by large private equity funds. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill prohibits vulture investors from cutting jobs, wages, or benefits to maximize profit. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill aims to protect the operational integrity and financial stability of youth sports organizations.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill protects the privacy of athlete biometrics and personal financial records from being claimed by investors. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires public notice in the Federal Register for various designations and guidance.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill prohibits the transfer of athlete biometric, performance, or family financial data to covered firms.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The Youth Sports Fund supports reducing participation costs and increasing scholarships for families. Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill's safety and labor protections indirectly benefit all participants including those with disabilities.
- 9/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/6/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/30/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/18/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/3/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/29/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 5/13/2026
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 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.
Alma AdamsDemocrat · North Carolina
Angie CraigDemocrat · Minnesota
Greg CasarDemocrat · Texas
Jared GoldenDemocrat · Maine
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Val HoyleDemocrat · Oregon
Pramila JayapalDemocrat · Washington
Mike LevinDemocrat · California
Summer LeeDemocrat · Pennsylvania
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
John MannionDemocrat · New York
Patrick RyanDemocrat · New York
Emily RandallDemocrat · Washington
Andrea SalinasDemocrat · Oregon
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan