H.R. 4371 — Kayla Hamilton Act

Summary

Kayla Hamilton Act

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to consider additional information when it makes placement determinations for unaccompanied alien children in its custody. Under federal law, an unaccompanied alien child is a minor with no lawful immigration status and no parent or legal guardian in the United States to provide care and physical custody.

Current law requires HHS to (1) place a child in the least restrictive setting that is in the child's best interest, and (2) assess the safety and suitability of a sponsor prior to placing a child with that sponsor.

In determining the least restrictive setting, this bill requires (currently, permits) HHS to consider the child's danger to self, danger to the community, and flight risk. Additionally, the bill requires placement in a secure facility in the case of a child who is 13 years of age or older and has gang-related markings or tattoos or a history of gang-related arrests or criminal conduct.

In assessing the safety and suitability of a sponsor, this bill requires HHS to collect and provide to the Department of Homeland Security information about all adult residents of the household, including name, date of birth, Social Security number, immigration status, contact information, and the results of all background and criminal records checks. The bill also prohibits HHS from placing a child with a sponsor who is unlawfully present in the United States.

How Congress Voted

House roll call 340 — Dec 16, 2025

427 votes

222(52%)

Yea

199(47%)

Nay

0(0%)

Present

6(1%)

Not voting

Related bills

S. 3054Kayla Hamilton Act119

Procedurally related

H.Res. 951Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4776) to amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to clarify ambiguous provisions and facilitate a more efficient, effective, and timely environmental review process; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1366) to provide for the location of multiple hardrock mining mill sites, to establish the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 845) to require the Secretary of the Interior to reissue regulations removing the gray wolf from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3616) to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to review regulations that may affect the reliable operation of the bulk-power system; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3632) to amend the Federal Power Act to adjust the requirements for orders, rules, and regulations relating to furnishing adequate service, to require owners or operators of generating facilities to provide notice of planned retirements of certain electric generating units, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4371) to amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to enhance efforts to combat the trafficking of children.119

Bill text versions

Legislative Journey

Introduced
Committee
Floor
Passed Chamber 1
Passed Chamber 2
Signed

Dec 17, 2025

Received in the Senate.

Senate

Dec 16, 2025

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

House

Dec 16, 2025

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

House

Dec 16, 2025

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 201 (Roll no. 340). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5921-5922)

House

Dec 16, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 201 (Roll no. 340). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5921-5922)

Dec 16, 2025

On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 218 (Roll no. 339).

House

Dec 16, 2025

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5933-5934)

House

Dec 16, 2025

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate H.R. 4371, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Stansbury demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

House

Dec 16, 2025

The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.

House

Dec 16, 2025

Ms. Stansbury moved to recommit to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H5927)

House

Dec 16, 2025

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

House

Dec 16, 2025

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4371.

House

Dec 16, 2025

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632 and H.R. 4371. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, under a structured rule and H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632, and H.R. 4371 under a closed rule. The resolution provides one motion to recommit on each bill.

House

Dec 16, 2025

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 951. (consideration: CR H5921-5927)

House

Dec 16, 2025

Rule H. Res. 951 passed House.

House

Dec 16, 2025

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 951 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632 and H.R. 4371. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4776, under a structured rule and H.R. 1366, H.R. 845, H.R. 3616, H.R. 3632, and H.R. 4371 under a closed rule. The resolution provides one motion to recommit on each bill.

House

Oct 17, 2025

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 297.

House

Oct 17, 2025

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-345.

House

Oct 17, 2025

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-345.

Sep 10, 2025

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 13.

House

Sep 10, 2025

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

House

Jul 14, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

House

Jul 14, 2025

Introduced in House

Jul 14, 2025

Introduced in House