United States of America: Bill codifying grooming as distinct offence and expanding child sexual abuse provisions to include digital depictions (HB 82) was introduced to Montana House of Representatives

On 18 December 2024, a Bill codifying grooming as a distinct offence and expanding child sexual abuse provisions to include digital depictions (HB 82) was introduced to the Montana House of Representatives. The Bill would amend several provisions of the Montana Code relating to crimes involving minors. It would expand the offence of sexual abuse of children to include computer-generated and simulated child pornography, and revise statutory definitions to reflect technological developments. The Bill would establish a separate criminal offence of grooming a child for a sexual offence, defined to include manipulation or coercion through in-person or electronic communication. It would also amend related offences, such as indecent exposure, prostitution, obscenity, and child sex trafficking, to apply in cases where the offender believes they are interacting with a minor, including scenarios involving law enforcement officers posing as children. The new grooming offence would be incorporated into the legal definition of a sexual offence, subject to offender registration and sentencing enhancements. Penalties for violations would include terms of imprisonment ranging from 5 years to life, depending on the nature of the offence and whether aggravating factors are present.