Close Oregon's child grooming loophole now

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The Issue

As someone who deeply cares about the safety and well-being of children in Oregon, I am alarmed by the current legal gaps that leave our children vulnerable to predatory grooming practices. Grooming is a sinister process where predators cunningly manipulate and build trust with children long before any explicit crime might be recognized by law enforcement. This phase is often a precursor to abuse and poses a grave risk to children across our state.

In Oregon, the existing laws do not adequately address this initial and crucial stage of grooming, leaving a dangerous loophole that puts countless children at risk. It is essential for us to recognize and tackle these early manipulative behaviors to prevent harm before it escalates into something more severe. Our children's safety should be a top priority, and we must ensure that our legal frameworks reflect this.

The Child Grooming Prevention Act is a necessary measure to close this loophole. It is designed to empower law enforcement and child protection agencies by equipping them with the tools needed to intervene during these early, formative stages of grooming. Importantly, this act is crafted with a thorough respect for constitutional rights, ensuring that it balances the need for child protection with our citizens' legal safeguards.

Every year, countless families suffer the devastating consequences of grooming that could have been prevented with timely intervention. The emotional and psychological impact on young victims and their families is profound and long-lasting. By passing the Child Grooming Prevention Act, we have the opportunity to drastically reduce these occurrences, sparing future families from enduring such trauma.

Oregon has always been a leader in progressive policy and child welfare. It is time for us to demonstrate that same leadership by fortifying our laws against child grooming. I urge lawmakers to prioritize this issue and bring the Child Grooming Prevention Act to the forefront of legislative action.

Sign this petition to show your support for closing the child grooming loophole in Oregon. Together, we can make our state a safer place for every child—a place where they can grow, learn, and play without the shadow of predatory harm looming over them. Your signature can help bring about much-needed change.

The Decision Makers

Oregon House of Representatives
2 Members
1 Responded
Court Boice
Oregon House of Representatives - District 1
“Thank you for reaching out and, most importantly, thank you to the Oregonians who have taken the time to raise their concerns about protecting children from predatory grooming. This is an issue I care deeply about and one on which I have already taken legislative action. During the 2025 legislative session, I introduced HB 3425 specifically to address grooming behavior involving children and to give Oregon another tool to intervene before exploitation progresses further. Although HB 3425 did not advance during that session, I believe the underlying issue deserves continued attention. The renewed interest reflected in this petition provides a good opportunity to take another serious look at Oregon law and at how we can strengthen the approach. My office is currently reviewing the concerns raised by the petition, our previous legislation, Oregon’s existing statutes, and approaches that have been considered or enacted in other states. We are also seeking input that can help us determine where genuine gaps may exist and how any future legislation can be written to be both effective and constitutionally sound. Our goal is straightforward: protect children, give law enforcement and prosecutors meaningful tools to address intentional predatory conduct, and ensure that any legislation is carefully written so that constitutionally protected activity is not swept into its reach. I am grateful to Heath Reams and the Oregonians who have brought renewed attention to this issue. I look forward to learning more from them as we continue our review, and I intend to remain engaged in finding the strongest path forward. [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]”
Jason Kropf
Oregon House of Representatives - District 54
Floyd Prozanski
Oregon State Senate - District 4

Supporter Voices

Petition Updates