House Bill 105 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mark GidleyRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Crimes and offenses; enticing a child for immoral purposes and electronic solicitation of a child, amended

Summary

HB105 would strengthen Alabama’s child-protection laws by adding grooming to the crime of enticing a child under 16 for immoral purposes, expanding electronic solicitation to cover more acts (including genital mutilation), clarifying jurisdiction for electronic-solicitation crimes, and setting an effective date of October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

It makes it illegal to entice, groom, or invite a child under 16 to enter a vehicle or other place for sexual acts or aggravated assault, adding the term 'groom' to the offense. It expands electronic solicitation of a child to include more electronic means and to target a child at least three years younger for the purposes of engaging in sex offenses or genital mutilation, with that offense classified as a Class B felony. It defines 'groom' as a pattern of behavior intended to prepare or persuade a child, including electronic, online, or in-person methods. It also adds jurisdiction rules for electronic-solicitation crimes, so cases can be heard in multiple counties where parts of the crime occurred, where the victim or defendant resided, or where an image was received, and sets the effective date at October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Children under 16: receive stronger protections against enticement, grooming, and sexual targeting, with offenses carrying felony charges against offenders.
• Potential offenders (adults): face new or enhanced felony charges (Class C for enticement of a child under 16 and Class B for electronic solicitation of a child) and could be prosecuted in multiple counties under expanded jurisdiction rules.

Key Provisions

• Adds 'groom' to the offense of enticing a child for immoral purposes and defines grooming as a pattern of behavior to prepare, induce, or persuade a child, including electronic, online, in-person, third-party, or indirect methods.
• Recasts the enticement statute to cover a child under 16 entering a vehicle or other place for purposes including sexual acts, sexual offenses, genital mutilation, or aggravated assault, with lascivious intent required.
• Expands electronic solicitation of a child to include broader electronic means (online services, the Internet, cell phones, cameras, storage devices, etc.) and to target a child at least three years younger to engage in sex offenses or genital mutilation, making it a Class B felony.
• Clarifies jurisdiction for electronic-solicitation crimes, allowing prosecution in any county where part of the crime occurred, where the victim or defendant resided, or where an image was received, and states the offense is committed in this state under specified conditions.
• Effective date set at October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 11, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes & Offenses