Bills · 2023-2024 Regular Session
Relating to: child sex dolls and providing a penalty.
Children Crime and criminals — Felony Legislature — Criminal penalties joint review committee on Sex crimes
- Introduced, completed
- Passes Senate, completed
- Passes Assembly, completed
- Governor signs, completed
- 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 pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Full history
- 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
- Jun 7, 2023 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Sep 5, 2023 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 10, 2024 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 10, 2024 · Senate
Report passage recommended by Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Ayes 7, Noes 0
- Jan 10, 2024 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jan 12, 2024 · Senate
Placed on calendar 1-16-2024 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 16, 2024 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Jan 16, 2024 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 16, 2024 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Jan 16, 2024 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jan 16, 2024 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 16, 2024 · Senate
Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Jan 22, 2024 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Jan 23, 2024 · Assembly
Made a special order of business at 10:15 AM on 1-25-2024 pursuant to Assembly Resolution 23
- Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Jan 25, 2024 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 25, 2024 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Jan 30, 2024 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled
- Mar 21, 2024 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 3-21-2024
- Mar 28, 2024 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 3-27-2024. 2023 Wisconsin Act 225
- Mar 28, 2024 · Senate
Published 3-28-2024