Safe Shelters for Survivors Act of 2026
Introduced in HouseFeb 20, 2026

Safe Shelters for Survivors Act of 2026

18 sections · 1 min read

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Safe Shelters for Survivors Act of 2026.

(1) In general

A covered shelter may not provide any service or shelter to a covered sex offender.

(2) Failure to comply

A covered shelter that fails to comply with the requirement under paragraph (1) shall be ineligible to receive any Federal funds during the following fiscal year.

(1) In general

Except for the purpose of seeking information on non-covered shelters, a covered sex offender may not enter or use the services of a covered shelter.

(2) Notification

A covered sex offender who enters a covered shelter shall, immediately upon entering such shelter, notify any individual operating such shelter that such offender is required to register on the National Sex Offender Registry.

(3) Provision of information

Upon receiving a notification from a covered sex offender under paragraph (2), the individual so notified may inform such offender of—

(A) any non-covered shelter; and

(B) the prohibition in paragraph (1).

(4) Penalty

Whoever, in or affecting interstate commerce, being a covered sex offender, knowingly fails to comply with paragraph (1) or (2) shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

(5) Effective date

This subsection shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

(c) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Covered sex offender

The term covered sex offender means a sex offender who is required to register on the National Sex Offender Registry under section 113 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (34 U.S.C. 20913).

(2) Covered shelter

The term covered shelter means a domestic violence shelter or a homeless shelter that receives Federal funds.

(3) National Sex Offender Registry

The term National Sex Offender Registry means the national database established under section 119 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (34 U.S.C. 20921).

(4) Sex offender

The term sex offender has the meaning given such term in section 111 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (34 U.S.C. 20911).

(5) Non-covered shelter

The term non-covered shelter means a domestic violence shelter or a homeless shelter other than a covered shelter.

(6) Homeless shelter

The term homeless shelter means a facility, all or a part of which is used or designed to be used to provide temporary housing for homeless individuals.

(7) Homeless

The term homeless has the meaning given such term in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302).

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