Child Sexual Abuse Amendments
HB 148, titled "Child Sexual Abuse Amendments," adds a sentencing factor for specific child sexual offenses when the defendant traveled over 45 miles from their home to commit the crime, or paid a child to travel over 45 miles for the crime. It directly affects defendants convicted of offenses like unlawful sexual activity with minors (Section 76-5-401), human trafficking of children (Section 76-5-308.5), or sexual abuse of a child (Section 76-5-404.1). The key mechanism requires courts to consider this travel distance as an aggravating factor during sentencing and include it in the judgment, with parole boards also factoring it into imprisonment length. This change, effective May 2025, modifies sentencing guidelines for these specific crimes without creating new funding or procedures.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 21, 2025
Signed Mar 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Substitute #2
→
Enrolled
·
2 edits
·
Mar 27, 2025
MINOR
The bill text remains identical, but the metadata was updated to reflect a change in the bill's status from 'Substitute #2' to 'Enrolled', indicating it has passed the legislature and is ready for the governor's signature. The effective date was also added.
Scope change
No substantive changes to the law's scope, definitions, or penalties were made; the content is unchanged.
TIMELINE
Added an effective date clause stating the bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
TECHNICAL
Updated the timestamp in the footer from February 4, 2025 to March 11, 2025.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
35
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Mar 27, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Mar 8, 2025
Legislature · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
legislature
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
House/ committee report favorable
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Committee
House/ to standing committee
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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