Yaeli Martinez Child Protection Act
Restricts federal child-welfare funding for specified interventions and sets rules for parental rights, foster care, and custody disputes.
In three House committees since Oct. 5, 2026, 3 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROOCT 5, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Child-welfare agencies investigate safety concerns and arrange foster care when children cannot remain at home. The bill would restrict how covered federal child-welfare funds can be used and set rules for state policies, training, and foster-care placements. It would also allow certain people to sue over violations and address interstate custody rules.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Restricts child-welfare funding
For programs funded under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, the bill would bar treating a parent’s affirmation of a child’s sex as abuse or neglect and would prohibit specified uses of federal funds, including supporting sex-rejecting interventions for children. Recipients that violate the rules could lose or have to repay funds and face penalties of 5%, 10%, or 15% of their grant-period funding, depending on the number of violations.
- Sets child-welfare policies and training
States receiving covered child-welfare funding would have to adopt policies and provide training on the bill’s rules, including rules about pronouns, foster-care placements, and sex-separated facilities for children age 4 or older. The bill would also require procedures to protect children in foster care from sex-rejecting interventions.
- Allows federal lawsuits over violations
Parents, guardians, caregivers, and children could sue covered entities in federal court over specified adverse actions or violations of the protected rights. Courts could award damages, orders to stop or undo an action, and attorney’s fees; the bill would also remove qualified immunity as a defense for covered employees, contractors, and agents.
- Changes foster and adoption rules
The bill would bar covered placement decisions from being denied, delayed, or prevented because a foster or prospective adoptive parent may affirm a child’s sex. It would also require states to set rules for sleeping and other facilities used by children in foster care.
- Addresses interstate custody orders
The bill would amend federal rules on recognition of child-custody determinations across states. The later section heading identifies this topic, but the available text does not show the specific changes.
The bill’s findings say child-welfare agencies and courts have removed children from fit families or denied foster and adoptive placements because adults affirm a child’s sex or decline to consent to interventions. The bill also claims that federal child-welfare funds have supported investigations, removals, and training based on those grounds; these are claims made by the bill, not independent findings here.
The bill’s stated concern is that such actions can harm children and families and interfere with parental rights. It seeks to change the conditions on federal child-welfare funding and to provide a route to court remedies, while its findings also raise concerns about children’s safety and treatment in foster care and disputes over custody across state lines.
Written from an excerpt of the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedOCT 5, 2026HOUSEOCT 5, 2026By Rep. Miller with 13 original cosponsorsReferred to Education and Workforce, Judiciary and Ways and Means
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeesOCT 5, 2026EDUCATION & WORKFORCE · JUDICIARY +1 NOWOCT 5, 2026In committee for 3 daysNo hearing yet
- 3 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- OCT 52026OCT 5, 2026REFERREDReferred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, 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.
- OCT 52026OCT 5, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 3, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
A coalition from 10 states
Plus the sponsor, a Republican. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Republican. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Rep. Miller’s record: sponsored 37 bills this Congress. 2 passed the House; 0 became law.
- Robert B. AderholtR-AL-4ORIGINAL
- Mark AlfordR-MO-4ORIGINAL
- Sheri BiggsR-SC-3ORIGINAL
- Josh BrecheenR-OK-2ORIGINAL
- Randy FineR-FL-6ORIGINAL
- Mark HarrisR-NC-8ORIGINAL
- Diana HarshbargerR-TN-1ORIGINAL
- Erin HouchinR-IN-9ORIGINAL
- Richard McCormickR-GA-7ORIGINAL
- Barry MooreR-AL-1ORIGINAL
- Andrew OglesR-TN-5ORIGINAL
- John W. RoseR-TN-6ORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
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