H.R. 4371 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Dec 16, 2025. Received Dec 17, 2025; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryTightens rules for housing unaccompanied migrant children
When the Department of Health and Human Services places unaccompanied children in its care, it has to follow certain safety rules. This bill strengthens those rules by requiring HHS to consider whether a child poses a danger to themselves or others, and whether they might run away. It also requires that teens 13 and older with gang-related tattoos or criminal histories go into secure facilities. When placing a child with a sponsor (someone who will care for them), HHS must now collect detailed information about all adults in that household and share it with immigration authorities. The bill also prevents HHS from placing children with sponsors who are in the country illegally.
How it affects you
This bill directly affects unaccompanied children in government custody who need placement, as well as the families and sponsors considering taking them in. If you're a potential sponsor, you'll face a more thorough background check and information collection process. The bill doesn't directly affect most other people, though it changes how the federal government handles decisions about where vulnerable migrant children live while in its care.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jul 14, 2025)
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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 4371
AN ACT
Kayla Hamilton Act
Sponsor: Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC-7) · Introduced Jul 14, 2025 · Crime and Law Enforcement · 3 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Dec 17, 2025: “Received in the Senate.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · Dec 16, 2025
Passage Passed 225–201
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 7 | 201 | 5 |
| Republicans | 218 | 0 | 2 |
7 members voted against most of their party: 7 Democrats voted Yes.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.