Legis Daily

SAFE Act

USA119th CongressS-3394| Senate 
| Updated: 12/9/2025
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (11)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Ashley Moody (Republican)Angus S. King (Independent)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)John Fetterman (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, titled the Sentencing Accountability For Exploitation Act or SAFE Act, directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines for offenses involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The directive applies to specific offenses under title 18 of the U.S. Code, aiming to ensure that penalties appropriately account for the actual and potential harm to victims and the public. The legislation mandates that the Commission consider changes in typical offense behavior and the use of modern computer and internet technologies since the guidelines were last amended, while also better reflecting the current spectrum of offender culpability. It defines "prohibited sexual conduct against a child" to include acts like kidnapping, illegal sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation, but explicitly excludes conduct related to merely accessing or viewing CSAM. In carrying out this directive, the Commission must ensure the guidelines reflect the seriousness of these offenses, the need for deterrence, just punishment, and public protection, and the importance of differentiating offenders based on culpability and dangerousness. It must also avoid duplicative punishment for the same conduct. The bill requires the development of guidelines that account for numerous factors, including: whether the defendant engaged in prior or subsequent prohibited conduct against a child; participation in groups dedicated to CSAM or encouraging others to commit such offenses; the use of concealment technologies or multiple online channels; gradations in the severity of depicted conduct and the age of the minor; the number of CSAM items or victims; and whether the offense involved distribution for valuable consideration or caused a victim's death by suicide. Crucially, the Commission is authorized to amend existing guidelines, even those promulgated under prior congressional directives, but is expressly prohibited from lowering the applicable base offense level provided in section 2G2.2(a) of the United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual as it exists on the date of enactment. The bill also repeals several older laws related to sentencing directives for child exploitation offenses.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2053
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-4123
SAFE Act of 2020

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2238
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1945
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-627
SAFE Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1482
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4731
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3926
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-1406
SAFE Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-1420
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-4752
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-4478
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3961
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-2037
SAFE Act of 2023

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-901
SAFE Act of 2023

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-854
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-436
SAFE Act
Feb 5, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-990
Introduced in House
Dec 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Dec 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2053
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-4123
    SAFE Act of 2020


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2238
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1945
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-627
    SAFE Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1482
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4731
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3926
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-1406
    SAFE Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-1420
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-4752
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-4478
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3961
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-2037
    SAFE Act of 2023


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-901
    SAFE Act of 2023


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-854
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-436
    SAFE Act


  • February 5, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-990
    Introduced in House


  • December 9, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 9, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 119-6719: James T. Woods Act

SAFE Act

USA119th CongressS-3394| Senate 
| Updated: 12/9/2025
This bill, titled the Sentencing Accountability For Exploitation Act or SAFE Act, directs the United States Sentencing Commission to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines for offenses involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The directive applies to specific offenses under title 18 of the U.S. Code, aiming to ensure that penalties appropriately account for the actual and potential harm to victims and the public. The legislation mandates that the Commission consider changes in typical offense behavior and the use of modern computer and internet technologies since the guidelines were last amended, while also better reflecting the current spectrum of offender culpability. It defines "prohibited sexual conduct against a child" to include acts like kidnapping, illegal sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation, but explicitly excludes conduct related to merely accessing or viewing CSAM. In carrying out this directive, the Commission must ensure the guidelines reflect the seriousness of these offenses, the need for deterrence, just punishment, and public protection, and the importance of differentiating offenders based on culpability and dangerousness. It must also avoid duplicative punishment for the same conduct. The bill requires the development of guidelines that account for numerous factors, including: whether the defendant engaged in prior or subsequent prohibited conduct against a child; participation in groups dedicated to CSAM or encouraging others to commit such offenses; the use of concealment technologies or multiple online channels; gradations in the severity of depicted conduct and the age of the minor; the number of CSAM items or victims; and whether the offense involved distribution for valuable consideration or caused a victim's death by suicide. Crucially, the Commission is authorized to amend existing guidelines, even those promulgated under prior congressional directives, but is expressly prohibited from lowering the applicable base offense level provided in section 2G2.2(a) of the United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual as it exists on the date of enactment. The bill also repeals several older laws related to sentencing directives for child exploitation offenses.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2053
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-4123
SAFE Act of 2020

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2238
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1945
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-627
SAFE Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-1482
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4731
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3926
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-1406
SAFE Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-1420
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-4752
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-4478
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-3961
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-2037
SAFE Act of 2023

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-901
SAFE Act of 2023

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-854
SAFE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-436
SAFE Act
Feb 5, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-990
Introduced in House
Dec 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Dec 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2053
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-4123
    SAFE Act of 2020


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2238
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1945
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-627
    SAFE Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-1482
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4731
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3926
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-1406
    SAFE Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-1420
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-4752
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-4478
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-3961
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-2037
    SAFE Act of 2023


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-901
    SAFE Act of 2023


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-854
    SAFE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-436
    SAFE Act


  • February 5, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-990
    Introduced in House


  • December 9, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 9, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (11)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Ashley Moody (Republican)Angus S. King (Independent)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)John Fetterman (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 119-6719: James T. Woods Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted