The Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission voted 7-2-3 on November 14, 2025, to recommend lighter sentences for adults convicted of attempting to sexually exploit minors in law-enforcement “Net Nanny” operations, if the offender has no prior convictions exploiting a child.

The proposal now advances to the Washington State Legislature for consideration in the 2026 session for approval and signature of Gov. Bob Ferguson.

The proposal, which mirrors language in Senate Bill 5312—primarily sponsored by Sen. Lisa Wellman, D-Mercer Island—would shorten the standard sentencing range for first-time offenders caught in online “Net Nanny” stings. It would also reduce mandatory sex-offender registration from lifetime to five years and post-release supervision from lifetime to three years

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