The bill amends Section 18-5614 of the Idaho Code to reclassify the offense of soliciting commercial sexual activity from a misdemeanor to a felony. The new legal language specifies that a person is guilty of this offense if they pay, offer to pay, or agree to pay another person for sexual contact, or if they offer or agree to provide a third person for sexual contact in exchange for a fee. This change aims to strengthen the legal consequences associated with soliciting commercial sexual activity.

Additionally, the bill removes previous provisions that allowed for misdemeanor penalties, including a minimum jail sentence of five days and a maximum of one year, along with potential fines. Instead, the act establishes that any conviction for soliciting commercial sexual activity will now be treated as a felony, thereby increasing the severity of the punishment. The bill declares an emergency, making it effective on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 18-5614