House Bill 4371
119th Congress(2025-2026)
Kayla Hamilton Act
Active
Amendments
Passed House on Dec 16, 2025
Bill Intelligence
The "Kayla Hamilton Act" amends placement determinations for unaccompanied alien children, aligning them with the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.
It enhances efforts to combat child trafficking, including secure placements, gang-related screening, and criminal history checks for potential guardians.
The Act addresses the construction, severability, and exemptions from the Paperwork Reduction Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.
It is effective upon enactment and applies to pending or future release and custody determinations for unaccompanied alien children.
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Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
4371
Congress
119
Policy Area
Crime and Law Enforcement
Crime and Law Enforcement
Primary focus of measure is criminal offenses, investigation and prosecution, procedure and sentencing; corrections and imprisonment; juvenile crime; law enforcement administration. Measures concerning terrorism may fall under Emergency Management or International Affairs policy areas.
Question
On Passage
Status
Passed
Type
Roll Call Vote
Roll Call Vote
A vote that records the individual position of each Member who voted. Such votes occurring on the House floor (by the "yeas and nays" or by "recorded vote") are taken by electronic device. The Senate has no electronic voting system; in such votes, Senators answer "yea" or "nay" as the clerk calls each name aloud. Each vote is compiled by clerks and receives a roll call number (referenced in Congress.gov as a "Record Vote" [Senate] or "Roll no." [House]).
Roll Call Type
Yea-And-Nay
Roll Number
340
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Summary
Kayla Hamilton Act
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to consider additional information when it makes placement determinations for unaccompanied alien children in its custody. Under federal law, an unaccompanied alien child is a minor with no lawful immigration status and no parent or legal guardian in the United States to provide care and physical custody.
Current law requires HHS to (1) place a child in the least restrictive setting that is in the child's best interest, and (2) assess the safety and suitability of a sponsor prior to placing a child with that sponsor.
In determining the least restrictive setting, this bill requires (currently, permits) HHS to consider the child's danger to self, danger to the community, and flight risk. Additionally, the bill requires placement in a secure facility in the case of a child who is 13 years of age or older and has gang-related markings or tattoos or a history of gang-related arrests or criminal conduct.
In assessing the safety and suitability of a sponsor, this bill requires HHS to collect and provide to the Department of Homeland Security information about all adult residents of the household, including name, date of birth, Social Security number, immigration status, contact information, and the results of all background and criminal records checks. The bill also prohibits HHS from placing a child with a sponsor who is unlawfully present in the United States.
December 16, 2025
October 17, 2025
July 14, 2025
Amendments (1)
Displaying only amendments with a detailed public record (0)
Sort by most recent
12/17/2025
Received in the Senate.
12/16/2025
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
12/16/2025
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12/16/2025
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 201 (Roll no. 340). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5921-5922)
12/16/2025
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 201 (Roll no. 340). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5921-5922)
12/16/2025
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 218 (Roll no. 339).
12/16/2025
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5933-5934)
12/16/2025
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate H.R. 4371, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Stansbury demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
12/16/2025
The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
12/16/2025
Ms. Stansbury moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H5927)
12/16/2025
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
12/16/2025
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4371.
12/16/2025
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632 and H.R. 4371. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, under a structured rule and H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632, and H.R. 4371 under a closed rule. The resolution provides one motion to recommit on each bill.
12/16/2025
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 951. (consideration: CR H5921-5927)
12/16/2025
Rule H. Res. 951 passed House.
12/16/2025
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 951 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632 and H.R. 4371. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, under a structured rule and H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632, and H.R. 4371 under a closed rule. The resolution provides one motion to recommit on each bill.
10/17/2025
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 297.
10/17/2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-345.
09/10/2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 13.
09/10/2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
07/14/2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
07/14/2025
Introduced in House
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Public Record
Record Updated
Mar 27, 2026 2:30:48 PM