Sheila Jackson Lee Stop Human Trafficking in School Zones Act
H.R. 10228118th Congress

Sheila Jackson Lee Stop Human Trafficking in School Zones Act

Introduced in the HouseRep. Michael McCaul (R-TX-10)96 sections · 7 min read
Version: ih · Apr 20, 2026

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Sheila Jackson Lee Stop Human Trafficking in School Zones Act.

Section 2. Increased punishment for human trafficking in school zones

Section 1591 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and

(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:

(1) Whoever violates subsection (a) knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that the violation is committed against a minor who, at the time of the violation—

(A) is enrolled in school and is—

(i) within a school zone; or

(ii) on, or within 1,000 feet of, a premises on which a school-sponsored activity is taking place; or

(B) is enrolled in an institution of higher education and is on, or within 1,000 feet of, a premises owned by the institution of higher education,

(1) shall, in addition to the punishment otherwise provided under subsection (b), be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, which shall run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed under such subsection (b).

(2) In this subsection:

(A) The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

(B) The term minor means a person who has not attained 18 years of age.

(C) The terms school and school zone have the meanings given those terms in section 921.

(D) The term school-sponsored activity means any activity that is produced, financed, arranged, supervised, or coordinated by a school or a State educational agency or local educational agency or is under the jurisdiction of a State educational agency or local educational agency.

(E) The terms State educational agency and local educational agency have the meanings given those terms under section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Section 3. Increased punishment for coercion and enticement in school zones

Section 2422 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(1) Whoever violates subsection (a) or (b) knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that the violation is committed against a minor who, at the time of the violation—

(A) is enrolled in school and is—

(i) within a school zone; or

(ii) on, or within 1,000 feet of, a premises on which a school-sponsored activity is taking place; or

(B) is enrolled in an institution of higher education and is on, or within 1,000 feet of, a premises owned by the institution of higher education,

(1) shall, in addition to the punishment otherwise provided under this section, be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, which shall run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed under this section.

(2) In this subsection:

(A) The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

(B) The term minor means a person who has not attained 18 years of age.

(C) The terms school and school zone have the meanings given those terms in section 921.

(D) The term school-sponsored activity means any activity that is produced, financed, arranged, supervised, or coordinated by a school or a State educational agency or local educational agency or is under the jurisdiction of a State educational agency or local educational agency.

(E) The terms State educational agency and local educational agency have the meanings given those terms under section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Section 4. Increased punishment for transfer of obscene material to minors in a school zone

Section 1470 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by striking Whoever and inserting (a)Whoever; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

(1) Whoever violates this section knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that the violation is committed against a minor who, at the time of the violation—

(A) is enrolled in school and is—

(i) within a school zone; or

(ii) on, or within 1,000 feet of, a premises on which a school-sponsored activity is taking place; or

(B) is enrolled in an institution of higher education and is on or within 1,000 feet of a premises owned by the institution of higher education,

(1) shall, in addition to the punishment otherwise provided under this section, be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, which shall run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed under this section.

(2) In this subsection:

(A) The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

(B) The term minor means a person who has not attained 16 years of age.

(C) The terms school and school zone have the meanings given such terms in section 921.

(D) The term school-sponsored activity means any activity that is produced, financed, arranged, supervised, or coordinated by a school or a State educational agency or local educational agency or is under the jurisdiction of a State educational agency or local educational agency.

(E) The terms State educational agency and local educational agency have the meanings given those terms under section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Section 5. Increased punishment for trafficking in a school zone

Section 1590 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(1) Whoever violates subsection (a) or (b) knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that the violation is committed against a minor, who, at the time of the violation—

(A) is enrolled in school and is—

(i) within a school zone; or

(ii) on, or within 1,000 feet of, a premises on which a school-sponsored activity is taking place; or

(B) is enrolled in an institution of higher education and is on or within 1,000 feet of a premises owned by the institution of higher education,

(1) shall, in addition to the punishment otherwise provided under subsection (a), be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, which shall run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed under such subsection (a).

(2) In this subsection:

(A) The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

(B) The term minor means a person who has not attained 18 years of age.

(C) The terms school and school zone have the meanings given those terms in section 921.

(D) The term school-sponsored activity means any activity that is produced, financed, arranged, supervised, or coordinated by a school or a State educational agency or local educational agency or is under the jurisdiction of a State educational agency or local educational agency.

(E) The terms State educational agency and local educational agency have the meanings given those terms under section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Section 6. Increased punishment for aggravated sexual abuse in a school zone

Section 2241 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(1) Violation in school zone or institution of higher education

Whoever violates subsection (c) knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that the violation is committed against a minor, who, at the time of the violation—

(A) is enrolled in school and is—

(i) within a school zone; or

(ii) on, or within 1,000 feet of, a premises on which a school-sponsored activity is taking place; or

(B) is enrolled in an institution of higher education and is on or within 1,000 feet of a premises owned by the institution of higher education,

(1) Violation in school zone or institution of higher education

shall, in addition to the punishment otherwise provided under such subsection (c), be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, which shall run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed under such subsection (c).

(2) Definitions

In this subsection:

(A) The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

(B) The term minor means a person who has not attained 16 years of age.

(C) The terms school and school zone have the meanings given those terms in section 921.

(D) The term school-sponsored activity means any activity that is produced, financed, arranged, supervised, or coordinated by a school or a State educational agency or local educational agency or is under the jurisdiction of a State educational agency or local educational agency.

(E) The terms State educational agency and local educational agency have the meanings given those terms under section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Section 7. Increased punishment for sexual exploitation of children in a school zone

Section 2251 of title 18, United States Code is amended by adding at the end the following:

(1) Whoever violates subsection (a) knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, that the violation is committed against a minor, who, at the time of the violation—

(A) is enrolled in school and is—

(i) within a school zone; or

(ii) on, or within 1,000 feet of, a premises on which a school-sponsored activity is taking place; or

(B) is enrolled in an institution of higher education and is on or within 1,000 feet of a premises owned by the institution of higher education,

(1) shall, in addition to the punishment otherwise provided under subsection (e), be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, which shall run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed under such subsection (e).

(2) In this subsection:

(A) The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

(B) The term minor means a person who has not attained 18 years of age.

(C) The terms school and school zone have the meanings given those term in section 921.

(D) The term school-sponsored activity means any activity that is produced, financed, arranged, supervised, or coordinated by a school or a State educational agency or local educational agency or is under the jurisdiction of a State educational agency or local educational agency.

(E) The terms State educational agency and local educational agency have the meanings given those terms under section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Section 8. Increased punishment for transportation of minors to and from a school zone to engage in criminal sexual activity

Section 2423 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(1) Violation in school zone or institution of higher education

Whoever violates subsection (a) by transporting a minor—

(A) who is enrolled in school—

(i) to or from any school; or

(ii) to or from a premises on which a school-sponsored activity is taking place; or

(B) who is enrolled in an institution of higher education, to or from a premises owned by the institution of higher education,

(1) Violation in school zone or institution of higher education

shall, in addition to the punishment otherwise provided under such subsection (a), be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, which shall run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed under such subsection (a).

(2) Definitions

In this subsection:

(A) The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

(B) The term minor means a person who has not attained 18 years of age.

(C) The terms school and school zone have the meanings given those terms in section 921.

(D) The term school-sponsored activity means any activity that is produced, financed, arranged, supervised, or coordinated by a school or a State educational agency or local educational agency or is under the jurisdiction of a State educational agency or local educational agency.

(E) The terms State educational agency and local educational agency have the meanings given those terms under section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

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