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Bills · 2023-2024 Regular Session

SB 321

Became law Official bill text Atom feed

Relating to: child sex dolls and providing a penalty.

Children Crime and criminals — Felony Legislature — Criminal penalties joint review committee on Sex crimes

  1. Introduced, completed
  2. Passes Senate, completed
  3. Passes Assembly, completed
  4. Governor signs, completed
  5. Law, completed

Unfamiliar terms? Glossary

What this bill does

Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes it a crime to intentionally possess a “child sex doll,” which is

defined under the bill to be an anatomically correct doll, mannequin, or robot, with

features that resemble a minor that is intended for use in sex acts, for sexual

gratification, or for manipulating children into participating in sex acts, instructing

children how to participate in sex acts, or normalizing sexual behavior with children.

The penalties for the crime vary depending on whether the violation is a repeat

offense, how many such dolls are possessed, and past convictions for other crimes

against children. For a first offense involving fewer than three dolls, it is a Class I

felony; for a second offense or for a first offense involving at least three dolls, it is a

Class H felony; and for a third or subsequent offense, it is a Class G felony. If the doll

is intended to resemble a specific minor, then the possession of it is a Class E felony

for a first offense and a Class D felony for a repeat offense. The bill provides that the

felony classification for any of the above offenses increases by one classification if the

person has a prior conviction for intentional physical abuse of a child, first-degree

sexual assault of a child, sexual exploitation of a child, use of a computer to facilitate

a child sex crime, or possession of child pornography.

The bill also prohibits intentionally selling, transferring, advertising,

displaying, or providing premises for the use of a child sex doll. For a first offense,

it is a Class I felony; for a second offense, it is a Class H felony; and for a third or

subsequent offense, it is a Class G felony. The bill prohibits intentionally selling,

transferring, advertising, or displaying instructions on how to create a child sex doll

or materials intended to create a child sex doll. For a first offense, it is a Class F

felony, and for a repeat offense, it is a Class E felony. Similarly, the bill prohibits

intentionally manufacturing a child sex doll. For a first offense, it is a Class F felony,

and for a repeat offense, it is a Class E felony, except that, if the doll being

manufactured is intended to resemble a specific minor, then it is a Class E felony for

a first offense and a Class D felony for a repeat offense. The bill provides that the

felony classification for any of the above offenses increases by one classification if the

person has a prior conviction for intentional physical abuse of a child, first-degree

sexual assault of a child, sexual exploitation of a child, use of a computer to facilitate

a child sex crime, or possession of child pornography.

The bill exempts from the created prohibitions law enforcement officers,

physicians, psychologists, attorneys, court officers, and others involved in law

enforcement or child therapy if the actions are taken in the lawful performance of

their duty.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,

the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a

report.

Sponsors

Introduced by: Hutton (R) , James (R) , Tomczyk (R) , Wanggaard (R)

26 cosponsors

Behnke (R) , Bodden (R) , Brandtjen (R) , Dittrich (R) , Goeben (R) , Gundrum (R) , Gustafson (R) , Hurd (R) , Macco (R) , Maxey (R) , Michalski (R) , Murphy (R) , Mursau (R) , Myers (D) , Nedweski (R) , O'Connor (R) , Rettinger (R) , Rozar (R) , S. Johnson (R) , Schraa (R) , Snyder (R) , Sortwell (R) , Stubbs (D) , Subeck (D) , Tittl (R) , Wichgers (R)

Votes

Senate: Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 0

Passed 7–0 Jan 10, 2024 official source full page

No individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Full history

  1. Jun 7, 2023 · Senate

    Introduced by Senators James, Hutton, Tomczyk and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Goeben, Bodden, Behnke, Brandtjen, Dittrich, Gundrum, Gustafson, Hurd, S. Johnson, Macco, Maxey, Michalski, Murphy, Mursau, Myers, Nedweski, O'Connor, Rettinger, Rozar, Schraa, Snyder, Sortwell, Stubbs, Subeck, Tittl and Wichgers

  2. Jun 7, 2023 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  3. Sep 5, 2023 · Senate

    Public hearing held

  4. Jan 10, 2024 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  5. Jan 10, 2024 · Senate

    Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 0

  6. Jan 10, 2024 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  7. Jan 12, 2024 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 1-16-2024 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  8. Jan 16, 2024 · Senate

    Read a third time and passed

  9. Jan 16, 2024 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  10. Jan 16, 2024 · Assembly

    Received from Senate

  11. Jan 16, 2024 · Senate

    Read a second time

  12. Jan 16, 2024 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  13. Jan 16, 2024 · Senate

    Rules suspended to give bill its third reading

  14. Jan 22, 2024 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Rules

  15. Jan 23, 2024 · Assembly

    Made a special order of business at 10:15 AM on 1-25-2024 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 23

  16. Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  17. Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  18. Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  19. Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly

    Read a third time and concurred in

  20. Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  21. Jan 25, 2024 · Senate

    Received from Assembly concurred in

  22. Jan 30, 2024 · Senate

    Report correctly enrolled

  23. Mar 21, 2024 · Senate

    Presented to the Governor on 3-21-2024

  24. Mar 28, 2024 · Senate

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-27-2024. 2023 Wisconsin Act 225

  25. Mar 28, 2024 · Senate

    Published 3-28-2024