HR-1274 : Still Just a Bill

The PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025, H.R. 1274, aims to strengthen and reauthorize the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008, which focuses on preventing and interdicting child exploitation.

Key provisions of H.R. 1274 include:

• **National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction:**
  • Changes the reporting frequency for the national strategy from every two years to every four years.
  • Significantly expands the required content of the national strategy, including detailed analysis of current and future trends (like new technologies), strategic solutions, interagency coordination, legislative recommendations, and engagement with international, State, local, Tribal law enforcement, and the private sector.
  • Mandates an estimate of resources required by various Federal agencies and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces.
• **ICAC Task Force Program:**
  • Expands the scope of the program to include Tribal and military law enforcement, and explicitly adds the identification of child victims.
  • Requires the Attorney General to evaluate the effectiveness of existing ICAC task forces and develop performance standards.
  • Clarifies the purpose of ICAC task forces to include prioritizing investigations that are most likely to result in positive case outcomes and child rescue.
  • Adds a provision for limited civil and criminal liability protection for ICAC task forces and participating agencies regarding lead prioritization decisions, with exceptions for intentional or reckless misconduct.
  • Updates the duties of task forces to include reactive and proactive digital forensic examinations and engaging in effective prosecutions.
  • Encourages the education of the judiciary on the links between intrafamilial and technology-facilitated crimes, and characteristics of online offenders.
• **National Internet Crimes Against Children Data System:**
  • Modifies the establishment of a national data system from mandatory ("shall establish") to optional ("may establish").
  • Removes specific references to "Operation Fairplay" and adjusts the composition of the working group.
• **ICAC Grant Program:**
  • Allocates not less than 20 percent of appropriated funds to support the ICAC Task Force Program for activities such as training, technical assistance, technology development, research, and wellness training.
  • Adds the "number of child victims identified" as a required performance reporting metric for grant recipients.
• **Authorization of Appropriations:** Authorizes specific funding levels for the program: $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.
• **Regional Computer Forensic Laboratories:** Repeals the section of the original Act pertaining to the establishment of additional Regional Computer Forensic Laboratories.
• **Reporting Requirements of Providers:** Amends Federal law (18 U.S.C. 2258A(c)) to require providers to include all supplemental data in reports related to child exploitation material.