H 541 Idaho House · 68th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (2026)

ENTICING A CHILD – Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding enticing a child through use of the internet or other communication device.

Idaho bill H 541 amends state law to strengthen penalties for using digital communication to target minors. It revises the definition of "child" to include individuals aged 16-17 if the perpetrator is at least five years older, and expands coverage to all communication devices (not just the internet) used to solicit or entice minors into sexual acts. The law removes the requirement for prosecutors to prove an actual sexual act occurred, making it a felony to merely attempt such enticement. This affects individuals using digital means to target minors, with penalties up to 15 years in prison.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Signed Mar 20, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Mar 16, 2026 · House Feb 11, 2026

How they voted

350
Passed
Total votes 35
Mar 16, 2026
D Democratic5
5 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican30
30 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
7
Committee
3
Mar 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President; returned to House
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
upper
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read third time in full – PASSED - 35-0-0AYES – Adams, Anthon, Bernt, Bjerke(Bjerke), Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow, Woller(Rabe), Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – NoneAbsent and excused – NoneFloor Sponsor - NicholsTitle apvd - to House
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time; referred to: Judiciary & Rules
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read Third Time in Full – PASSED - 69-0-1AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias(Carlson), McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Pickett, Pohanka, Price,
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Reported Printed and Referred to Judiciary, Rules & Administration
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.