State Lawmakers Approve Legislation To Allow De*th Penalty For Adults Convicted Of Se*ually Abusing Children

Idaho lawmakers approved legislation that would allow the death penalty for adults convicted of sexually abusing children age 12 and younger.

“House Bill 380, cosponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa and House Assistant Majority Leader Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, would allow the death penalty in a new criminal charge the bill creates: aggravated lewd conduct with children age 12 and younger,” Idaho Capital Sun reports.

BREAKING: Idaho legislators pass a bill to allow the de*th penalty for adults who s*xually abuse children age 12 and younger.

— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) March 25, 2025

Per Idaho Capital Sun:

The bill also would add mandatory minimum prison sentences for cases of aggravated lewd conduct with minors — which would only apply to abuse of children age 16 and below — that don’t meet the bill’s proposed criteria for death penalty eligibility.

The Idaho Legislature widely passed the bill this year. The Idaho Senate passed the bill Monday on a 30-5 vote, with opposition from three Senate Democrats and two Senate Republicans. Last week, the Idaho House unanimously passed the bill, with 63 votes in favor and seven lawmakers absent.

When the bill is transmitted to Gov. Brad Little, he has five days, excluding Sundays, to decide on it. He has three options: sign it into law, allow it to become law without his signature, or veto it.

If passed into law, the bill would take effect July 1.

The Idaho House UNANIMOUSLY passed a bill to allow the death penalty for pedos who s*xually abuse children age 12 and younger.

The bill now heads to Governor Brad Little’s desk. pic.twitter.com/5FvbpWpPVR

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 25, 2025

New: Idaho lawmakers have advanced legislation allowing the death penalty for individuals who are convicted of lewd conduct with a child under the age of 12

This bill now heads to Governor Brad Little desk pic.twitter.com/30dfo2kyvg

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) March 26, 2025

Local News 8 reports:

A bill that would allow death penalty sentences for adults convicted of sexually abusing children ages 12 and younger has passed the Idaho Legislature with wide support. The bill is now headed to Governor Brad Little for final consideration.

House Bill 380 is intended to amend existing law defining “aggravated rape” beyond “lewd and lascivious conduct,” and to create harsher punishments for adults convicted of “the most heinous of those crimes involving young children.”

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, says proposed legislation would create and allow the death penalty under the new offense: Aggravated lewd conduct with a minor 12 and under.”

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The bill would create a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years for individuals convicted of aggravated lewd conduct with a minor ages 13 to 15. Offenders charged with the rape of a child ages 12 or under would face a 30-year minimum sentence or the death penalty.

Read the legislation HERE.