Trafficking Survivors Relief Act
Signed into law Jan 23, 2026 · Crime and Law Enforcement
What this law does
- Creates a process to cancel federal convictions and erase arrest records for certain crimes that human trafficking victims committed as a result of being trafficked.
- Allows a defendant to argue they acted under duress by showing they were a trafficking victim at the time of the crime.
- Allows certain legal aid grants to be used to help survivors seek relief after conviction.
- Requires reports from the Government Accountability Office, U.S. Attorneys' Offices, and the Justice Department, including on prosecutor training about trafficking signs.
Plain-language list by Voting On, based only on the official summary by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service and the bill's titles. Read the official summary.
How it became law
- IntroducedJul 10, 2025 · House
- 144 daysPassed HouseDec 1, 2025
- 17 daysPassed SenateDec 18, 2025
- 25 daysPresented to the PresidentJan 12, 2026
- 11 daysSigned into lawJan 23, 2026
Official summary
Trafficking Survivors Relief Act
This act establishes a process to vacate convictions and expunge arrest records for certain criminal offenses committed by victims of human trafficking that directly result from or relate to having been a trafficking victim.
It defines the offenses eligible to be vacated or expunged and sets forth procedures for filing a motion.
The Government Accountability Office must assess the impact of this process, including the number of human trafficking survivors who file motions to vacate convictions or expunge records.
Under the act, U.S. Attorneys' Offices must report to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the number of motions to vacate convictions or expunge arrest records that are filed. Additionally, the DOJ must report to Congress on professional training received by U.S. Attorneys on indicators of human trafficking during the preceding 12-month period.
The act permits certain grants for legal representation to be used to seek post-conviction relief.
Finally, the act allows a defendant to establish, as a defense, that the offenses were committed under duress by demonstrating that he or she was a victim of human trafficking at the time of the offense.
Summary by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Jan 23, 2026).
Who wrote it
Sponsor: Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7]
19 cosponsors: 11 Republicans, 8 Democrats. 2 signed on the day it was introduced, 17 joined later.
Show all cosponsors
| Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|
| Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2] | Jul 10, 2025 | Original cosponsor |
| Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] | Jul 10, 2025 | Original cosponsor |
| Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] | Jul 14, 2025 | |
| Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] | Jul 14, 2025 | |
| Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4] | Jul 16, 2025 | |
| Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] | Jul 21, 2025 | |
| Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7] | Jul 29, 2025 | |
| Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] | Jul 29, 2025 | |
| Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3] | Aug 8, 2025 | |
| Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2] | Aug 8, 2025 | |
| Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] | Aug 8, 2025 | |
| Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] | Aug 12, 2025 | |
| Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5] | Aug 12, 2025 | |
| Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3] | Aug 12, 2025 | |
| Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8] | Aug 15, 2025 | |
| Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7] | Sep 3, 2025 | |
| Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] | Sep 4, 2025 | |
| Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] | Sep 9, 2025 | |
| Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] | Sep 10, 2025 |
Recorded votes
No recorded roll-call votes. It passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, where individual votes are not recorded.
What was added
Amendments adopted (0)
No floor amendments were adopted. Any changes were made in committee or in a later version of the bill.
Sections in the final law that were not in the first version (Introduced in House) (0)
None. Every section heading in the final law was already in the first version (Introduced in House).
What was removed
Sections in the first version (Introduced in House) that did not make it into the law (0)
None. Every section heading from the first version (Introduced in House) remains in the law.
Compared by section heading between the Introduced in House text (Jul 10, 2025) and the Enrolled Bill text, both from GovInfo. Wording changes inside a section that kept its heading are not shown here; see the amendments and the text versions.
Proposed but not adopted
No amendments were voted down or withdrawn.
Full action history
Show all 24 official actions
| Jan 23, 2026 | Signed by President. |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Signed by President. |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Became Public Law No: 119-73. |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Became Public Law No: 119-73. |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Presented to President. |
| Jan 12, 2026 | Presented to President. |
| Dec 19, 2025 | Message on Senate action sent to the House. |
| Dec 18, 2025 | Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. |
| Dec 18, 2025 | Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8894) |
| Dec 2, 2025 | Received in the Senate, read twice. |
| Dec 1, 2025 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| Dec 1, 2025 | Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4919-4921) |
| Dec 1, 2025 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4919-4921) |
| Dec 1, 2025 | DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4323. |
| Dec 1, 2025 | Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4919-4923) |
| Dec 1, 2025 | Mr. Fry moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. |
| Oct 17, 2025 | Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-347. |
| Oct 17, 2025 | Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-347. |
| Oct 17, 2025 | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 299. |
| Sep 10, 2025 | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held |
| Sep 10, 2025 | Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. |
| Jul 10, 2025 | Introduced in House |
| Jul 10, 2025 | Introduced in House |
| Jul 10, 2025 | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. |
Sources: Congress.gov (bill record, sponsors, actions, amendments, CRS summary) and GovInfo (official text). Days are calendar days.