Justice for Allie Act

119th Congress Introduced by Tom Barrett and 7 co-sponsors

Criminalizes coercing protected adults with disabilities to send intimate images, creating a new federal offense with defined penalties.

Introduced in House

Overview

Bill: HR 7715 (Justice for Allie Act)

Session: 119th Congress, 2nd Session

Introduced: February 25, 2026 by Rep. Stevens (for herself and Rep. Dingell) with several co-sponsors (Barrett, Stevens, Moulton, Dingell)

Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary

Purpose: Amend Title 18 of the U.S. Code to criminalize the coercive inducement or coercion of protected adults to send or transmit an intimate visual depiction, extending federal protection against sexual exploitation to a broader class of vulnerable adults.

Key Provisions

New offense introduced: “Sexual Exploitation of Protected Adults” (proposed 18 U.S.C. chapter 109A, new § 2245A)

Offense elements:
Using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce
Knowingly persuading, inducing, enticing, or coercing a protected adult to send or transmit an intimate visual depiction
The intent to harm the protected adult
Penalties:
First offense: fined, imprisoned for up to 1 year, or both
Second or subsequent offense: fined, imprisoned for up to 2 years, or both

Definition of “protected adult” (key criteria):

An individual 18 years or older
At the time of offense, unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect, or exploitation due to one or more listed conditions

Listed conditions (examples of protected statuses):

Autism spectrum disorder
Intellectual developmental disorder or intellectual disability
Cerebral palsy
Down syndrome
Major neurocognitive disorder
Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders

Definition of “harm”:

Broadly includes physical, psychological, financial, or reputational harm

Legislative housekeeping:

Adds a new § 2245A to Chapter 109A
Updates the table of sections to reflect the new offense

Who is Affected

Protected adults who have disabilities or conditions that impair their ability to protect themselves at the time of an incident (as defined by the bill)

Individuals who attempt to/coercively cause protected adults to share intimate visual depictions

Federal jurisdiction applies when communications, transportation, or other interstate/foreign commerce mechanisms are involved

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduction date: February 25, 2026

Referral: Committee on the Judiciary (as of the bill text)

The bill follows standard federal criminal statute amendment processes:

Defines new offense, elements, and penalties
Provides explicit definitions to guide enforcement and interpretation
Requires addition to the federal statutory table of sections for clarity and indexing

Notes and Context

The act emphasizes protection against coercive exploitation of adults with disabilities in the realm of intimate image sharing.

Penalties are modest for a first offense (up to 1 year) and higher for repeat offenses (up to 2 years), reflecting the sensitive nature of the offense and the vulnerability of the target group.

The bill aligns with broader efforts to combat online and offline sexual exploitation and leverage federal reach when interstate or international elements are involved.

If you’d like, I can provide a comparison with existing federal statutes on exploitation or summarize related state-level protections for context.