H.B. 221 Coercion Amendments: transcript

Hey, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, uh, this is, if you've read, hopefully you've read through it at this point. Uh, you're familiar with some of the cases that have led to this. Um, as we found, uh, last year in some of those cases out of the Organized Crime Subcommittee, um, they started out as sexual extortion cases. We dealt with prosecuting those and coordination with our federal partners for those who were overseas. Um, we had some related conversations a little bit earlier. So we started off with, uh, the financing of these organizations. Um, this one, uh, relates to, uh, how they try to cover up the crime and what the crime is, what it means when you try to do such a thing by encouraging suicide. We had four of those cases, uh, where parents came in and testified to us last year. Um, at the end of this extortion case, they, uh, tried to cover it up by encouraging the suicide of the young men. Uh, one of those, uh, is particularly haunting. He was dead within 24 hours that a West Haven in Weaver County from first contact 24 hours. Once we finally figured out what had happened and went through his records and all of that. Um, so we're, we're attempting to, to deal with this here. We've added a few additional elements, um, to sexual extortion, um, what aggravated sexual extortion means, and, um, the mandatory fines. We've added some fines for, you know, what it means when you encourage someone to commit suicide, as if a fine could help. But we're, we're trying to do our best to, uh, not just be a deterrent, but also, um, you know, appropriately punish someone who engages in this kind of behavior. Um, this is not disassociated from the briefings that we had in the interim. Uh, if you remember last August from some of the online gangs, uh, the FBI briefed us on, um, uh, those who are targeting youth, not just for money or, uh, extortion, but, uh, entertainment. We saw that in the case, um, that led to a, a bomb threat hoax at Ben Loman High School in October. Ended up being a 13-year-old out of Washington. The state of Washington had been extorted. That one was not for money, that was entertainment for these online criminal organizations. So shut down an entire school, ended up causing all sorts of havoc. And, uh, I can tell you some more things about it, but the bottom line is when those things go far enough that they encourage and specially result in the death of someone as a result of it. That's what we're trying to target. Happy to answer any questions if there are any.

Uh, Nate Mutter, chair of the Law Enforcement Legislative Committee. Uh, we'd like to thank Representative Wilcox for paying attention to this issue. It is, uh, it's a terrible thing and, and, uh, I don't know that, that I need to even get into it. Uh, Representative Wilcox, um, explained it well, uh, appreciate the, the committee taking a look at this during the interim, uh, sat through some of those presentations and, uh, seen some of the, these issues and, and, uh, it's an ugly deal. And so, uh, something like this, uh, is needed and we appreciate the attention. Uh, definitely urge the support of the bill. Thank you.

Marley Jones, director of the Victim Services Commission. Uh, the Victim Services Commission is in support of this bill. We're very appreciative of it. We're also very appreciative of Representative Wilcox and in another bill, a Representative Shepherd for looking at the language used in the statute when we talk about committing suicide, because that is archaic and it's, uh, not trauma-informed, and it's not something that needed, um, that has drawn any attention. Um, but to be sensitive though to those, those families and loved ones that are left behind, um, we use die by suicide or death by suicide. And they both embrace that in a, in a most kind and sensitive way in their language. And we as a commission that encourage trauma informed and encourage trying to support those that are suffering as a result of crime such as this, these coercive acts that are devastating to our, our young people and even our old people. Uh, we're very appreciative of it. And, and hope that you'll support this bill. Thank you.

Yes. Motion to adopt house amendment. One for second substitute HB 2 21 coercion amendments.

Yeah, no, this is, uh, as a result of going through multiple cases and, uh, cases where, you know, we're not intending to be caught up in, you know, domestic disputes from a, you know, just a fight between a couple kind of a scenario. So we're trying to, to walk that line. Um, and at the same time, anything legitimate we're, we're going after still. So that's the intent of the sub of the amendment.

Yes. Make a motion to pass out favorably HB 2 21 as amended coercion amendments.

I would, you know, this committee for me is so, such a personal committee when people come and share all these personal stories. And it wasn't that long ago that there were parents mothers coming to talk about their sons who had been coerced online, um, that they were being extorted for money and then encouraged to commit suicide. And it, that's what the result was. And so, I think, especially in this digital age of extortion and AI and other things, I just think it's really important that we criminalize, um, those that push others, uh, in this manner. And I really appreciate the sponsor, but wanna recognize all of the family members of, of the surviving, um, that, that are still, that survived the, these tragic accidents of their, of their family members, and, uh, recognize and want them to know that we hear them and hope that this will help to make a difference to prevent this in the future as well.

Yeah, I want to, I wanna highlight one thing kind of sticking in your mind here. So, we've talked about sextortion, we've attacked it now for the last two years with these bills. Um, year over year, uh, 2024 to 2025, data fall two through fall 2025, we're up over 81% on sextortion referrals inside of Utah, year over year 81. Like, we're not, this is taking off way faster than our ability to keep up or pass laws or any of that stuff. So this, this is gonna be something that, uh, culturally we're gonna have to figure out faster than, than we are, because that's not sustainable either. As far as the, this particular bill goes with, uh, you know, coercion and then we already have a suicide epidemic in the West. We know that we're in the suicide belt, so to speak. Um, and we've gotta figure out that out too. But, um, we don't need help from criminal actors who are trying to cover up their evil behavior. So, any other suggestions on how to improve this or make it stronger or whatever we need to do, let's work through that on the way. Thank you.

Yes, I, uh, to that comment, I just wanna thank the sponsor because you have worked diligently for, in our schools, for our young people to understand that the challenge with this and that it is very real and how to recognize it, and to recognize that there's, there's never, you've never gone too far to have it be too late, um, and or never been able to get out of a hole that, that you find yourself in. And so I just appreciate both on the, um, on the criminal aspect as well as the victim aspect, the work that, that you've done to address this problem in Utah.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good to be here with you. Um, Utah's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Our ICAC task force has received 1,264 sextortion tips in 2024 and through September of 25, they had had 2,288. So an 81% increase year over year nationally. The FBI tells us that our sextortion victims had lost over 65 million since 2021. I'm told that's now up to over 80 million. And that's, uh, that's just the stuff that we, we know about Utah. Teens are dying as a result of sextortion. That's not hyperbole. Um, this is happening, um, unfortunately on a fairly regular recurring basis. Um, the FBI issued a public service announcement about violent online networks, and they went beyond that with us. They came in and testified to our organized crime subcommittee last year about, you know, where these, these gangs were going. And what we found is that, um, not only are they engaging in this activity, but then they've turned into encouraging suicide as a method to cover up the crime. Uh, we had devastating testimony from, you know, four different families, uh, that had come in. They were all parents of young men between ages 15 and 25, who had lost their lives. One of them, and maybe not, that there's one that's worse than another, but one young man that was in, uh, from my county, um, he was dead within 24 hours of first contact. And so what we're doing here is, uh, we're creating a, a charge that we're able to use of aiding and encouraging suicide. It's a new second degree felony for intentionally encouraging suicide on four more occasions that results in death, or an attempt includes mandatory fines of nonw mi minimums of $10,000, uh, second degree ex degree extortion, and 20,000 for first degree and sexual extortion updates where, uh, criminalizing refusing to delete or remove intimate images and using images to compel acts against the victim's will. And that's, that's one of the pieces that is the most, uh, insidious about this. That's the leverage that they use. They hold over victims. Um, we're addressing this in terms of domestic violence. Uh, we're making sure that there isn't any, uh, time limit here and that they're added to the registry when a person commits this. This isn't disconnected from the other things that I brought to you, uh, from a school security standpoint. We just went through, uh, well, a few months ago at Ben Loman High School, we had a 13-year-old boy outta Washington that called it a bomb threat. Um, as part, as, you know, targeted by one of these criminal online gangs. Um, this is not a isolated, uh, case. We've had a number of those across the board. Happy to answer any questions. If there are any Inclusion presentation, we'll come back to the committee for clarifying questions.

You know, I, well, that came from, uh, the ags office, but I am, I can defer to them if they have a specific One sufficient for me. One, yeah, I understand that. And I'm not opposed to that amendment. If you'd like to drop it down. I think, uh, what they were targeting, if I understood it right, was a pattern of behavior. And that I understand that that's an easy prosecution Pattern of behavior, talking people into committing suicide. Yeah, that's, If you'd like to make an amendment, I'm cool with that. Or we can do that on the floor or whatever you'd like. Mr. Chair. Uh, let me think on it. Well, let's go to the B.

Marly Jones, director of the Victim Services Commission. Uh, we are in support of this bill. We appreciate the sensitivity and the focus on the safety of those impacted by this crime. And appreciate representative Wilcox's efforts in that regard. So we're in support. Thanks.

Carl Hahs, statewide Association of Prosecutors. Um, I'm not from the ags office, but to, uh, answer maybe the question that got asked about why the number four was chosen. There have been similar laws in other states, uh, when we get First Amendment rights that are intersecting with, with speech that is not action. Uh, the courts have been very reticent to criminalize it if it's a one-off instance. And so, uh, my understanding is the number four was picked because that's something that they believe would be defensible. Uh, that's, uh, my legal reading of it, um, from swap. We're in support of this bill. We think this is very important. Okay.

Dan Strong with CCJJ. Carl said exactly what I was gonna say, but we also voted to support the bills. Thank you.

We're on sub two and it's been adopted. I would Move that we recommend favorably.

I'll WA Senator Brammer? Uh, some I'll waive at this point. Thank you.

Second substitute house bill 2 21. Coercion amendments by Representative Wilcox. This bill was heard in law enforcement and criminal justice with the vote. 10 0 1

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Pro TEM representatives Utah's, uh, internet crimes against children. Task force ICAC received 1,264 sextortion tips in 2004. As of September, 2025, they had received 2,288, an 81% increase year over year. Uh, extortion is an issue that we've tried to address in the past. One of the sad, uh, realities, and it's not unrelated to the bill that we just, uh, passed, um, oftentimes it's, it is just a financial motive. We had, uh, four, uh, families that had come and talked to us and testified last year, um, whose young sons had had been compromised in extortion cases. They'd lost their money and they ended up taking their own lives as a result, um, rather than, and have them find out. When we dug into those cases, uh, one of the terrible parts about that is if there's anything positive. One of the terrible, uh, most terrible parts about that was that we found out that the criminals had induced them to commit suicide, as is an effort to cover up the crime. So it wasn't just that they lost their child, it was that when we dug into the cases that was part of the coverup. That was, we wouldn't have even found out in some of the cases if it hadn't been for the forensics. We, we talked about our CFL earlier today. Um, but if we, if we hadn't, wouldn't have found out that that's what had happened if we hadn't gone through their devices and their computers and been able to read the communications. So what this bill does is, uh, it's called coercion amendments. This is coercion and inducement to, to someone to get them to commit suicide. Uh, it's one of the more heinous things I've come across in this space. And, um, that's what it is. Uh, the bottom line is, uh, we're losing kids, uh, for, from this, uh, practice, and there should be, um, an and penalty that doesn't exist right now in the code. We don't really have, uh, a way to prosecute this like we should. So aiding and encouraging suicide is, is a new second degree felony for intentionally enc encouraging suicide on four or more occasions that results in death or an attempt. Mandatory fines include non waivable minimums, which is where you see on the fiscal note. Um, it's yellow up there. So just to clarify with everyone, this is actually what prompted me to ask that question in caucus. Um, when we catch these, what we're saying is there's enough cases we anticipate there's being some fines paid. This is a, a positive fiscal note. It's not gonna cost to say anything, but unfortunately there's enough cases where this is happening. We think it's gonna bring in some money and, um, we're gonna have to use that to prosecute the cases. So I'm, I'm happy to answer any questions if there are any, but that's the, that's the root of this one.

Waive. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

Thanks Mr. President Pro tem, um, Utah's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received 1,264 SEXTORTION tips in 2024 and in September, 2025, they received 2,288. In that time, that's an 81% increase in sextortion. Utah's are dying as a result of sex extortion. There's no question about that. The FBI issued a public service announcement about violent online networks that target youth using threats, blackmail, and, and manipulation to extort victims. The material extorted often includes sexual acts, animal abuse and self-harm like dying by suicide. HB 2 21 captures the actions of these violent online networks by adding that sexual extortion includes compelling a victim to do any act HB two 20 one's creation of the offense aiding and encouraging suicide targets. Members of these groups who pressure youth to end their lives in the bill specifically, uh, a new second degree felony for intentionally encouraging suicide on four occasions. So you'd have to do it for four times before the second degree felony would be in place. And there's also some mandatory fines, nonw of a fairly significant 10 and $20,000 sexual extortion updates. Uh, the criminal criminalizes refusing to delete or remove intimate images and using images to compel acts against the victim's will. Um, and then in domestic violence cases, classify, uh, classifies both sexual and aggravated sexual extortion as domestic violence offenses when committed by a co inhabitant. Um, it also will require the, uh, registry on the sex kidnapping offender registry without Mr. President Proti. That concludes my presentation. Thank you For that presentation.

Call the question Mr. President.

This is a house Bill roll call vote. Senator Vickers Baldy Lewin b brammer Bald Aye. B Brammer Bus colmore as Camia Fillmore Grover. Aye. Harper Aye. Hankins Ipson Johnson. Quan McKay. Mikel Milner Musselman Owens Aye. Pitcher thumb Aye. Rebi Aye. Sandal. Aye. Stevenson Stratton. Aye. Vickers a Weiler Aye. Wilson. Aye.

Thank you. I'll make a motion to encircle, uh, Senate bill 47 reauthorization of administrative rules.

Thank you very much. Motion to substitute.

Perfect. Thanks Mr. President. Um, this bill is just dealing with, um, coercion as it happens to, uh, maybe more pedestrian term is sextortion. Um, so what this bill does, it makes a secondary felony for intentionally encouraging suicide, but it would take four times for that to take effect. Um, there's some, they wanna make sure that it's a repetitive, uh, nature before they increase that penalty. Mandatory fines not waivable a minimum of $10,000 for encouraging and extortion and 20,000 for on a first degree. Uh, extortion. Sexual extortion updates. It criminalizes refusing to delete or remove intimate images and using images to compel acts against victim's will and in cases of domestic violence, uh, classifies both sexual and aggravated sexual extortion as domestic violence offenses when committed by a cohabitants. Um, that's the bill. Uh, uh, that's my presentation. Thanks Mr. President.

President. Thank you. Motion is shall second substitute house Bill two twenty one pass. Roll call vote.

Thank you. And move on. Circle House Bill 57, substitute one.

Thank you. I move to delete and title and Body House bill 57 for substitute and replace it with second substitute house bill 57. This takes care of the speak for the substitute. Yeah. Takes care of the fiscal, uh, note on it.

Yeah, this bill makes a number of technical changes including standardization of vehicle, white definitions, exempting, street legal, all terrain vehicles from, uh, various provi provisions, uh, correcting sales tax error marks, and a bunch of other stuff that was studied during the interim. And it is, uh, this bill is at the request of the tax commission, uh, repays some antiquated plates and makes a whole bunch of technical changes and correctional things that were cross references that were, that were incorrect in code.

Thank you. And move it. Second subsequent house, house bill 57 pass.