Idaho Bill Aims to Expand Online Child Enticement Felony

Proposed legislation would cover victims up to age 17 if perpetrator is at least 5 years older

Jan. 28, 2026 at 3:31pm

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A bill introduced in the Idaho Legislature would extend the criminal penalties for online sexual enticement of a child to apply when the victim is under the age of 18, up from the current law which only applies if the victim is under 16 years old. The proposed bill would add the felony penalty if the victim was 16 or 17 years old and the perpetrator was at least five years older.

Why it matters

The bill is aimed at closing a loophole in Idaho's existing law around online child enticement, which currently only applies to victims under 16. Expanding the law to cover 16- and 17-year-olds could help protect more minors from online predators.

The details

Rep. Steve Tanner, R-Nampa, introduced the draft bill in the House Judiciary and Rules Committee. He said it was created after a discussion with a member of Idaho Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children team. Under current Idaho law, it is a felony for an adult, age 18 or older, to use the internet or a communication device to solicit, seduce, lure, persuade or entice a person under age 16 to engage in sexual acts. The proposed bill would add the felony penalty if the victim was 16 or 17 years old and the perpetrator was at least five years older.

  • The bill was introduced on Tuesday in the Idaho Legislature.
  • The bill will be eligible to return to the committee for a full public hearing at a later date.

The players

Rep. Steve Tanner

A Republican state representative from Nampa, Idaho who introduced the draft bill.

Idaho Attorney General's Internet Crimes Against Children team

A team that works to investigate and prosecute online crimes against children, which provided input on the proposed legislation.

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What they’re saying

“That avoids what we call Romeo and Juliet sort of scenarios.”

— Rep. Steve Tanner, State Representative

What’s next

The bill will be eligible to return to the House Judiciary and Rules Committee for a full public hearing at a later date.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation aims to close a loophole in Idaho's existing law around online child enticement, expanding protections for 16- and 17-year-olds who can be targets of online predators.