House Bill No. by Representative Horton aims to enhance the legal framework surrounding sex offenses committed against minors in Louisiana. The bill introduces a new provision under R.S. 14:42.1(A)(3), which classifies second degree rape as occurring when the victim is between the ages of thirteen and seventeen, and the offender is at least seventeen years old, thereby expanding the circumstances under which this crime is defined. Additionally, the bill amends Code of Criminal Procedure Article 571.1 to establish a thirty-year statute of limitations for prosecuting any sex offense involving a victim under eighteen, starting from the victim's eighteenth birthday. This change broadens the scope of offenses that fall under this time limitation.

Furthermore, the bill modifies Code of Evidence Article 804(B)(5) to adjust the age threshold for hearsay exceptions related to complaints of sexually assaultive behavior from twelve to thirteen years. This amendment aims to ensure that statements made by minors who are thirteen years old or younger can be considered trustworthy and admissible in court when the declarant is unavailable as a witness. Overall, the bill seeks to strengthen protections for minors against sexual offenses and improve the legal processes surrounding such cases.