Kids Safety on Set Act

Full Title:
Kids Safety on Set Act of 2026

Summary#

This bill requires a criminal background check for any person who will have supervisory duties, compulsory authority, or frequent or private interaction with a minor (under 18) on an entertainment industry project when the minor is not their biological child or legal ward. The check must be completed within 90 days before the person’s first day of work or before they receive ownership interest. It must include Live Scan fingerprint clearance or an equivalent FBI background check and may only screen for offenses involving sex, violence, stalking, or minors. The entertainment industry entity must pay for the check and the bill caps the cost at $100 per check.

If an entity employs someone who is in violation, the Attorney General may seek a civil monetary penalty up to twice the total dollar cost of the production activity in which that employee is involved. The Attorney General may also seek a temporary restraining order to stop production immediately and a preliminary or permanent injunction to continue halting production until the violation is resolved. A violating employee must be terminated or reduced so they do not hold more than 2 percent beneficial ownership and must lose special investor rights, including on-set access, as described in the bill. The bill also defines terms such as compulsory authority, employee, entertainment industry entity, minor, supervisory duties, and entertainment industry project.

What it means for you#

  • Adults who will supervise, direct, or have the power to compel minors on sets must pass the required background check before working.
  • Entertainment entities that create, produce, promote, or distribute theater, dance, music, fashion, motion pictures, TV (including unscripted), commercials, video games, and monetized online video must run and pay for these checks.
  • The rule applies to credited adults, corporate officers, beneficial owners with privileged access, and anyone who signs waivers or NDAs with set access.
  • The bill excludes entities that solely produce journalism and says it does not apply to works released under a Creative Commons license.

Expenses#

  • The bill caps each required background check at no more than $100 and requires the entertainment industry entity to pay that cost.
  • The Attorney General may seek civil penalties up to twice the total dollar cost of the production activity involving a violating employee.
  • No publicly available information about federal implementation costs, enforcement cost estimates, or other budgetary impacts is included in the bill text or provided metadata.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text about proponents' statements or rationale. Sponsors listed in the metadata: Donald Beyer, Lauren Boebert, Young Kim, Ro Khanna.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text about opponents' statements or rationale.