Kayla Hamilton Act
Where it stands
- Introduced7/14/25
- Passed HousePassed 12/16/25
- Senate
- President
- Law
Passed the House 225–201 on December 16, 2025 (Roll Call 340 →). Received in the Senate on December 17, 2025. No Senate action since.
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Roll calls on this bill
- Democratic7 Yea · 201 Nay · 5 Not voting
- Republican218 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Not voting
- Independent / Other0 Yea · 0 Nay · 0 Not voting
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.
2
7/14/25
What happens next
The Senate must pass the same text, then it goes to the President.
If it isn't enacted by Jan 3, 2027, it expires when the 119th Congress ends.
All actions (22)
- 7/14/25Introduced in House
- 7/14/25Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 9/10/25Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 9/10/25Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 13.
- 10/17/25Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-345.
- 10/17/25Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 297.
- 12/16/25Rules 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.
- 12/16/25Rule H. Res. 951 passed House.
- 12/16/25Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 951. (consideration: CR H5921-5927)
- 12/16/25Rule 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.
- 12/16/25DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4371.
- 12/16/25The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- 12/16/25Ms. Stansbury moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H5927)
- 12/16/25The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
- 12/16/25POSTPONED 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.
- 12/16/25Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5933-5934)
- 12/16/25On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 218 (Roll no. 339).
- 12/16/25Passed/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)
- 12/16/25On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 201 (Roll no. 340). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5921-5922)
- 12/16/25Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 12/16/25The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- 12/17/25Received in the Senate.