This bill was recently introduced in the Senate and is currently being reviewed by the Committee on the Judiciary. It is in the early stages of the legislative process and is considered active. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
Senate
House
President
Law
Unlikely to pass
While national security is a major concern, bills that create new mandatory minimum sentences often face significant opposition and usually struggle to pass without broad bipartisan support.
Key Points
This bill would create strict new punishments for people caught trying to sneak dangerous biological materials into the country. It specifically targets the smuggling of germs, viruses, or toxins that could be used as weapons or cause widespread disease.
Anyone convicted of planning or carrying out the smuggling of these biological agents would face at least 20 years in federal prison. This is a mandatory minimum sentence, which means a judge would be required to give at least that much time regardless of the specific details of the case.
The bill also sets a mandatory 5-year prison sentence for anyone who lies to federal agents or hides information about biological agents. This includes lying on permit applications or during government investigations into how these materials are being moved.
The policy aims to protect national security by making the risks of smuggling biological agents much higher. By setting long prison terms, the bill's supporters hope to stop people from attempting to bring dangerous substances across U.S. borders.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
2 milestones2 actions
Jun 10, 2026Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Jun 10, 2026
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
No votes, news coverage, or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Biosecurity Smuggling Deterrence Act of 2026
Bill NumberS 4729
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
