The proposed bill seeks to enhance legal protections for children against sexual exploitation by introducing the offense of "grooming of a child for a sexual offense." This new offense encompasses behaviors such as manipulating a child into sexual conduct, coercing them into meetings for sexual purposes, and exploiting authority to foster secretive relationships with minors. The bill also revises existing laws to allow law enforcement to pose as children, expands the definition of sexual offenses to include computer-generated child pornography, and establishes severe penalties for offenders, particularly those whose victims are under 16 years of age. Notably, it specifies that offenders may face life imprisonment for grooming a child and mandates treatment programs for those convicted.

Additionally, the bill addresses child sex trafficking by instituting a mandatory 100-year prison sentence for offenders, with the first 25 years being non-paroleable, alongside a $400,000 fine and lifetime supervision upon release. It clarifies that consent from a child or a mistaken belief that a child is an adult is not a valid defense in these cases. The legislation also amends obscenity laws to criminalize the distribution of obscene materials to individuals under 18, including minors and undercover law enforcement officers. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and aims to significantly strengthen the legal framework surrounding crimes against children.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_1(1): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_1(2): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_1(3): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_1(4): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_1(5): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_1(6): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_1(7): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_1: 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(1): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(10): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(11): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(12): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(13): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(14): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(2): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(3): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(4): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(5): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(6): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(7): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(8): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2(9): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_2: 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(1): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(10): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(11): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(12): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(13): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(2): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(3): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(4): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(5): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(6): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(7): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(8): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3(9): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_3: 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(1): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(10): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(11): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(12): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(13): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(14): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(15): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(16): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(17): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(2): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(3): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(4): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(5): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(6): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(7): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(8): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X(9): 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509
HB0082_X: 45-5-504, 45-5-601, 45-5-625, 45-5-711, 45-8-201, 46-23-502, 46-23-509