H 173 Vermont House · 2023-2024 Regular Session

An act relating to prohibiting manipulating a child for the purpose of sexual contact

This bill amends existing laws to strengthen protections against child sexual abuse by clarifying that manipulating a child for sexual contact is prohibited. It directly affects adults who may exploit children through emotional or psychological pressure to engage in sexual activities. The key provision adds the phrase "with intent" to the legal language, ensuring that deliberate manipulation is explicitly covered under the statute. The legislation reflects findings that most child sexual abuse is committed by someone known to the child and their family. Once signed into law, it provides clearer legal grounds for prosecuting cases involving coercive manipulation of minors for sexual purposes.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Mar 2024
House Passage
May 2024
Senate Passage
May 2024
Signed into Law
May 2024
Introduced Feb 7, 2023 Signed May 10, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
30
Key actions
4
Committee
2
Amendments
13
May 10, 2024
Signed into law
Signed by Governor on June 12, 2024
executive
May 10, 2024
Lower · Passed
Delivered to the Governor on June 6, 2024
lower
May 8, 2024
Introduced
House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendment
upper
May 6, 2024
Introduced
Senate proposal of amendment concurred in
lower
May 6, 2024
Introduced
Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
lower
May 4, 2024
Introduced
Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of Amendment
lower
May 4, 2024
Introduced
Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
lower
May 2, 2024
Introduced
Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment
upper
May 1, 2024
Introduced
Proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary agreed to
upper
May 1, 2024
Introduced
Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Sears for Committee on Judiciary
upper
May 1, 2024
Introduced
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 30, 2024
Introduced
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Apr 26, 2024
Introduced
Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on Judiciary
upper
Mar 22, 2024
Introduced
Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary
upper
Mar 19, 2024
Lower · Passed
Report of Committee on Judiciary agreed to
lower
Mar 19, 2024
Lower · Passed
Rep. Arsenault of Williston reported for the Committee on Judiciary
lower
Mar 19, 2024
Introduced
Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
lower
Mar 15, 2024
Introduced
Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
lower
Feb 7, 2023
Introduced
Read first time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
lower
1 primary · 32 co-sponsors

Sponsors