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

On 1 April 2025, the Montana legislature adopted the Bill codifying grooming as a distinct offence and expanding child sexual abuse provisions to include digital depictions (HB 82), following approval of amendments by both chambers. The Bill will now be transmitted to the Governor for signature. It revises multiple provisions of Montana law concerning crimes involving minors. It expands the offence of sexual abuse of children to include computer-generated and simulated child pornography and introduces updated definitions to reflect technological developments. The Bill establishes a new criminal offence of grooming a child for a sexual offence, including manipulation or coercion through in-person or electronic communication. It amends 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 is added to the 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.