Bills / H.B. 138
H.B. 138 Child Abuse Homicide Amendments
- Introduced
- House committee
- House vote
- Senate committee
- Senate vote (stopped here)
- Signed into law
What this bill does
This bill clarifies that a child's death by suicide can be treated as child abuse homicide when the abuse directly or proximately caused it, and that suicide cannot be used as a defense in such a case. It also sets first- or second-degree felony penalties for child abuse homicide and makes a coordinating technical correction.
Plain-English summary written by AI from the sponsor’s presentation in committee and on the floor. Check the official text below.
Official description
- clarifies that an actor can be charged under the criminal offense of child abuse homicide if the child dies by suicide after being subjected to child abuse or child torture and the suicide is a direct or proximate result of the abuse or torture
- corrects an error in the child abuse homicide offense's penalty subsection
- adds a coordination clause to merge the changes to Section 76-5-208 if both this bill and S.B. 32, Child Abuse Homicide Corrections, pass and become law
- makes technical and conforming changes
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Every vote
- 8 yes, 0 no, 3 absentHouse Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 13, 2026Who voted how
- 70 yes, 0 no, 5 absentFinal House vote · Feb 23, 2026Who voted how
- 5 yes, 0 no, 4 absentSenate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee: vote to approve it · Mar 4, 2026Who voted how
Hearings and debates
- Feb 13, 2026 House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee▶ WatchRead the transcript (27 turns) →
- Feb 23, 2026 House floor debate▶ WatchRead the transcript (11 turns) →
- Mar 4, 2026 Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee▶ WatchRead the transcript (16 turns) →