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Congress·In Committee·10 days ago

House Bill Would Ban Registered Sex Offenders From Federally Funded Shelters

Also known as: Safe Shelters for Survivors Act of 2026

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • This bill would stop registered sex offenders from staying at or using services from homeless and domestic violence shelters that receive federal money. The goal is to protect vulnerable people, like survivors of abuse and children, who are living in these temporary homes.
  • If a shelter breaks this rule and lets a registered sex offender stay there, the government would take away all of that shelter's federal funding for the next year. This puts pressure on shelters to check the backgrounds of the people they help.
  • Registered sex offenders would be required to tell shelter staff about their status as soon as they walk in. They are only allowed to enter these buildings to ask for information about other places to stay that do not receive federal funding.
  • Any registered sex offender who knowingly breaks these rules or fails to tell staff about their status could be fined or sent to prison for up to five years. These new rules would start 180 days after the bill becomes a law.
HousingCriminal Justice

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 20, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Feb 20, 2026

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

180 days after enactment

Ban on sex offenders using covered shelters takes effect

Registered sex offenders would no longer be able to enter or use services at any federally funded homeless or domestic violence shelter. Shelters would need screening systems in place. Violations could result in criminal penalties for offenders or loss of federal funding for shelters.

Related News

3 articles
WCBD News 2·10 days ago

Congresswoman Nancy Mace introduces bill to block sex offenders from federally funded shelters

Rep. Nancy Mace introduced the 'Safe Shelters for Survivors Act of 2026,' which would prohibit registered sex offenders from entering or receiving services at federally funded domestic violence and homeless shelters, citing the need to protect vulnerable families fleeing abuse.

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New Jersey Monitor·7 days ago

New Federal Bill Targets Sex Offenders in Homeless Shelters

While the Safe Shelters for Survivors Act aims to increase safety in temporary housing, critics argue that such measures exacerbate the homelessness crisis for those on registries who already face severe residency and employment restrictions.

CL~
Phys.org·7 days ago

Why laws named after tragedies win public support

Analysis of recent legislation, including the Safe Shelters for Survivors Act, suggests that naming bills after victims or survivors significantly boosts public approval, though experts warn of potential unintended consequences for the populations the laws target.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Safe Shelters for Survivors Act of 2026

Bill NumberHR 7624
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.