Assembly committee discusses child grooming bill


MADISON (WKOW) — Wisconsin currently lacks a state statute defining grooming a child for sexual activity. This legal gap means child predators who groom children, often through texting or online, cannot be charged.

Proposed legislation defining grooming received bipartisan support at the Capitol on Tuesday. 

The bill, discussed by the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, includes a list of grooming examples. These include sexual conversations, inappropriate physical contact and digital communications meant to seduce a child.

“AB 677 builds upon successful models in other states to give Wisconsin prosecutors and law enforcement officers the clear statutory authority that they need to hold predators accountable,” said Republican State Representative Amanda Nedweski.

Nedweski reminded people of the trial against Christian Enwright, a former Kenosha middle school teacher, who was found to have sent sexually inappropriate messages to a student.

“Despite overwhelming evidence of sexually inappropriate conduct, Enwright could only be charged with 22 counts of misdemeanor conduct,” said Nedweski.

Nedweski and other state lawmakers are now trying to change that narrative. Democratic Representative Jodi Emerson supports the bill but raised concerns about its potential impact on healthy relationships between kids and mentors.

“If we get it wrong, perhaps we’re isolating more kids,” said Emerson.

Nedweski responded by saying they have worked closely with law enforcement to make the definition as clear and specific as possible.

The bill will now be subject to a vote in an executive session by the same committee. If it progresses, it will move to the Assembly floor.