CHILD Act of 2025

The CHILD Act of 2025 (S. 1528) would amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to broaden who can be subject to national background checks when organizations work with vulnerable populations. The bill is titled the Comprehensive Health and Integrity in Licensing and Documentation Act of 2025. Its central change is to expand the definition of “Covered Individual” to include not only directly employed staff but also contractors, volunteers, and individuals who are licensed or certified by organizations that work with or are connected to qualified entities. This means more people who interact with vulnerable populations—whether through direct employment, contracting arrangements, volunteering, or licensure—could be screened through the federal background-check system. The bill was introduced in the Senate in April 2025 by Sen. Durbin (with Sen. Grassley and Sen. Ossoff as co-sponsors) and was reported out of the Judiciary Committee in July 2025 without amendment. The text provided focuses specifically on expanding who qualifies for background checks under the NCPA, rather than creating new screening procedures, funding, or enforcement mechanisms.