Source: msn.com 2/10/26 While Kennewick residents and local lawmakers continue to try and halt a proposed transitional home for sexually violent predators, one nearby city isn’t waiting until they face the same issue. West Richland’s planning commission plans a public hearing Thursday on changing city zoning to force any future “secure transition facilities” into light industrial zones. The move comes after all eight bills proposed by Tri-Cities lawmakers this legislative session failed to gain any traction in Olympia last week. … West Richland’s plan could greatly reduce the ability to…
Read MoreCategory: Non-California State
AL: 11th Circuit tackles sex offender residency ban amid child predator death penalty push
Source: courthousenews.com 2/10/26 Oral arguments revealed deep judicial skepticism on both sides as Alabama joins other states to pursue aggressive measures against child predators, from family bans to potential executions. (CN) — A rare en banc hearing before the full 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Tuesday may foreshadow the legal battles awaiting Alabama’s newest tough-on-crime measure. On Feb. 5, the state Legislature overwhelmingly passed House Bill 41, the “Child Predator Death Penalty Act,” making certain non-homicide sexual crimes against children under 12 punishable by death. HB41, now…
Read MoreWA: Bill proposes changes to sex offender registration laws in Washington
Source: nbcrightnow.com 2/9/26 OLYMPIA, Wash. — A new bill aimed at modifying sex offender registration laws is moving through the Washington Legislature. HB 2403 proposes that failure to register as a sex offender would be classified as a seriousness level I offense and an unranked class C felony. This change removes the elevation to a class B felony for a third or subsequent offense. Additionally, the definition of “sex offense” under the Sentencing Reform Act would no longer include a second or subsequent felony failure to register offense. Community custody requirements…
Read MoreMO: Good news! 8th Circuit Denies Attorney General Requests
Source: ACSOL The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals today issued a decision denying requests by the Attorney General of Missouri for either a rehearing or an en banc hearing. The requests were filed after a panel of three judges from the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision on January 2, 2026, ruling that the Missouri law requiring registrants to post a sign on their home is unconstitutional. The only remaining option for the Attorney General of Missouri to appeal the 8th Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision issued last…
Read MoreAL: Alabama Legislature sends bill extending death penalty to child sexual assault to Gov. Kay Ivey
Source: alabamareflector.com 2/5/26 The Alabama Senate gave final approval to a bill Thursday that would allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty for those convicted of sexual assault of a child under the age of 12, setting up a possible court battle over its constitutionality. HB 41, sponsored by Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, passed the Senate 33-1 with no changes. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. Sen. April Weaver, R-Hoover, who sponsored the Senate version of the legislation, cited the discovery of a child sex trafficking ring last summer in Bibb County,…
Read MoreAZ: HB 2870 makes it harder for registrants to find housing by prohibiting multiple registrants at same location
Source: trackbill.com [Arizona residents: take action to call, write, show up] … Makes it unlawful for a person who is on supervised release and who is classified as a level two or level three offender to reside with any other person who is also a registered sex offender, unless the persons are related by blood, marriage or adoption. … Read the full bill
Read MoreAZ: HB 2413 (Nguyen) Mandating Electronic Monitoring for Homeless Sex Offenders Clears Judiciary Committee
Source: Representative Quang Nguyen STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Legislation sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Quang Nguyen to strengthen monitoring of registered sex offenders was approved today by the House Judiciary Committee. House Bill 2413 requires courts to place any registered sex offender who does not have a permanent address on global positioning system or electronic monitoring until a residence is established. The bill closes a serious gap in current law by ensuring offenders who cannot be reliably located are continuously monitored, strengthening accountability and protecting Arizona communities. Under existing…
Read MoreAZ: Arizona Bill Would Make It a Felony for Parents To Bring Their Kids to Drag Shows
Source: reason.com 2/4/26 Bringing your kid to a drag show could become a felony crime in Arizona. Today, the state’s House Judiciary Committee will vote on House Bill 2589, a measure introduced by Rep. Michael Way (R–Queen Creek). H.B. 2589 would create the new criminal offense of “unlawful exposure to drag show performances,” a Class 4 felony. Class 4 felonies—a category that includes robbery, forgery, some burglaries, and some types of aggravated assault—are punishable by one to three years in prison for someone with no previous felony offenses. (For those with…
Read MoreNE: Nebraska Teacher, 26, Facing 20 Years In Prison For Dating High School Graduate, 19
Source: yahoo.com 2/2/26 Nebraska schoolteacher Cody_____, 26, and an 18-year-old female allegedly entered an intimate relationship two months after she graduated from high school Pester is now charged with sexual abuse by a school official If found guilty at trial, Cody could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison on that charge In the Spring of 2025, a sixth-grade teacher in Nebraska met a student in his capacity as the high school wrestling coach. Cody, 26, and the young woman began exchanging texts on May 10, which is…
Read MoreNM: Bill eliminating statute of limitations on sex crimes moves through Roundhouse
Source: krqe.com 2/1/26 NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A bill that would eliminate the statute of limitations on certain sex crimes, including those against children, is moving forward in the Roundhouse. On Sunday, the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee discussed Senate Bill 41, which would eliminate the time cap on when survivors of sexual assault could come forward to report and prosecute the offender. Supporters of the bill say this change reflects what data shows about why so many of these crimes go underreported, or reported years later. “Fear, shame, threats,…
Read MoreNM: Meta faces New Mexico trial over child-exploitation claims
Source: reuters.com 1/30/26 New Mexico AG alleges Meta enabled child exploitation on platforms Meta claims First Amendment, Section 230 shield it from liability Meta faces scrutiny over child safety, mental health impacts Jan 30 (Reuters) – Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab is set to face trial next week in a lawsuit brought by the state of New Mexico accusing it of exposing children and teens to sexual exploitation on its platforms and profiting from it, the first case of its kind against the social media giant to reach a jury. The…
Read MoreMO: #TheyLied Defamation Plaintiff, Suing Over Rape Allegations, Can Prove Reputational Harm with His Own Testimony
Source: reason.com 1/28/26 In Apperson v. Kaminsky, decided Friday by the Missouri Supreme Court (opinion by Justice Paul Wilson, Apperson sued his ex-romantic partners Kaminsky and Norman for defamation (see the intermediate appellate decision for more factual details): After [their] involvements ended, Norman told more than one person Apperson raped and abused her, and Kaminsky told others (in person and through an extensive social media campaign intended to reach those with whom Apperson dealt personally and professionally) that Apperson stalked and raped her, was a serial rapist and serial abuser, was restrained from…
Read MoreFL: Lawmakers take another try at identifying what is ‘harmful to minors’
Source: floridaphoenix.com 1/27/26 Access by children to library materials could be at stake. A Florida House committee sent to the House floor a bill that would define how school library materials may be “harmful to minors,” building on a controversial 2023 law that led to removal of library books from schools based on objections from the public. The House Education & Employment Committee approved HB 1119, its second and final committee, despite concerns from the public, some lawmakers, and advocacy groups that the bill may be used to eliminate books…
Read MoreKY: Sixth Circuit reinstates Kentucky ban on anonymous social media use by sex offenders
Source: floridaactioncommittee.org 1/27/26 A proposed class of convicted sex offenders failed to meet the high bar required for broad injunctive relief when it made a facial challenge to a Kentucky law that bans their anonymous use of social media, according to a ruling Monday from the Sixth Circuit. A panel of the appeals court vacated a preliminary injunction granted by U.S. District Judge Greg Stivers. An anonymous plaintiff filed suit on behalf of a class shortly after Kentucky Democratic Governor Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 249 into law and required…
Read MoreIL: State’s attorney explains ‘short’ sentence for sex offender
Source: myjournalcourier.com 1/26/26 CARROLLTON — The Greene County state’s attorney said social media comments prompted him to make “a statement of reason” about a sex offender’s sentencing. Comments posted on Facebook were focusing on the sentencing of Kaleb _____, 24, who now is on the sex offender registry. He was charged with sexual assault of a minor between 13 and 17 years old. He initially was facing five charges, including two Class X felony child pornography charges, two felony child pornography charges, and sexual assault of a minor between…
Read MoreFL: Registrant ordered to move out of Florida home
Source: newsnationnow.com 1/24/26 CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — Michael Jonathan ______ was convicted on 17 counts of having child pornography on his computer. Court documents show he had more than 300,000 sexually explicit images of child pornography. Friday, he stood before Judge Julie Sercus to ask that he be allowed to live in his home while serving probation for his convictions. The state argued that there is a park and a daycare located in close proximity to the home Michael would like to remain in. His attorney said the park doesn’t…
Read MoreVA: Virginia man convicted of child pornography possession despite autism defense
Source: kristv.com 1/23/26 CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A 26-year-old Virginia man with previous ties to Corpus Christi was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material after a jury rejected his defense that autism prevented him from understanding the illegality of his actions. Anthony ____ was found guilty following a three-day trial and approximately nine hours of jury deliberation, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced. The investigation began in October 2023 when authorities discovered Anthony had been engaging in activity involving images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement…
Read MoreMO: Missouri Rep. introduces castration bill HB 1687
Source: ozarksfirst.com 1/20/25 JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri State Rep. Scott Cupps (District 158) has filed a bill for the current legislative session that would allow courts to sentence ‘certain sex offenders’ to be surgically castrated. The McDonald and Barry County Representative’s bill says, if passed, the procedure would be done by a licensed physician from the Department of Corrections. As of now, the bill, HB 1687, is not scheduled for any committees or on the House calendar but was pre-filed on December 1, 2025. The summary language reads, “Before a…
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