Madison, WI – Today, State Representative Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield) voted for a package of bills that prioritizes the safety and well-being of Wisconsin youth. Among these bills is Assembly Bill 677, which creates a crime of grooming a child for sexual activity.
As a member of the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Representative Duchow participated in the committee’s review of AB 677. At the hearing, public safety advocates expressed the need for a criminal definition of grooming. Under current law, the harshest charge an individual convicted of grooming can receive is disorderly conduct. AB 677 will provide prosecutors with the necessary tools to hold predators accountable.
“The passage of Assembly Bill 677 sends a clear message to Wisconsinites: those who prey on our children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. As we look ahead to the final weeks of this legislative session, my Republican colleagues and I remain committed to advancing policies that prioritize public safety and protect vulnerable populations.”
Assembly Bill 677 passed both the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and the Assembly Floor with overwhelming bipartisan support. The companion bill, Senate Bill 671, now awaits consideration by the State Senate.
Other legislation approved by the Assembly includes two constitutional amendments: one to allow individuals to gather in places of worship during a state of emergency and another to prohibit discrimination. Assembly Bill 281, which requires employment eligibility verification, also known as E-Verify, passed on partisan lines.
