SCREEN Act of 2026
Adds the State and Homeland Security departments to agencies permitted to receive center disclosures for screening and vetting.
In the Senate Judiciary Committee since Sept. 24, 2026, 12 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Federal law sets limits on when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children may share information. The SCREEN Act would add the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security to the agencies permitted to receive disclosures for screening and vetting.
- 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.
- Adds two departments to permitted disclosures
The bill would add the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to the agencies that may receive disclosures from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for screening and vetting.
The practical change is that two federal departments would be permitted to receive disclosures from the center for screening and vetting. The bill text does not specify what information would be disclosed or describe a particular problem the change is meant to address.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026SENATESEP 24, 2026By Sen. Scott with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Judiciary
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 24, 2026JUDICIARY NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 12 daysNo hearing yet
- 12 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE 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
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 12, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Republican. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Republican. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Scott’s record: sponsored 189 bills this Congress. 18 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Ted BuddR-NCORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
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