On Monday, a piece of emergency legislation outlawing the possession, sale, and importation of sex dolls that resemble children received final approval from the Arizona House of Representatives. HB 2169, sponsored by State Representative Quang Nguyen, establishes new class 4 felony criminal offenses for the possession, trafficking, and importation a child sex dolls.
The measure also changes the existing class 2 felony offense of sexual exploitation of a minor to include conduct involving child sex dolls that use the face, image, or likeness of a real infant or minor under the age of 12.
Nguyen’s bill received strong bipartisan support, passing the House with a vote of 58-0. It will now be transmitted to Governor Katie Hobbs who must decide whether to sign it into law. If signed, it would take effect immediately.
Nguyen’s legislation defines “child sex doll” as an anatomically correct doll that has the features that resemble an infant or a child who is under twelve years of age and is intended to be used for sexual simulation or gratification. A movement of legislation to eliminate these objects within states has commenced across the country, with at least five other states having similar legislation in effect.
“Of all the horrible things, I never expected to learn that there are sex dolls made to resemble the likeness of children,” Rep. Nguyen. “These dolls are a gateway to victimizing children, serving no value or purpose other than feeding some individuals’ dangerous desire to molest young children. We live in a civilized nation, and there’s no room for such an extreme perversion to exist – children must be protected. As Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, I am proud to lead on judicial issues and to have introduced other legislation to minimize crimes against children.”
This disturbing issue was initially brought to Representative Nguyen by Pinal County officials, who indicated that law enforcement has increasingly encountered individuals in possession of these objects, but currently have no authority in which to charge suspects in connection to them. The Federal Bureau of Investigations issued an alert in February 2023 to heighten public awareness of the issue as well.