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Senator introduces bill to decriminalize consensual adult sex work, citing public‑health and safety arguments
Summary
Senator Vahulski introduced S.54 to decriminalize consensual adult sex work, saying the change would protect sex workers, help trafficking victims report crimes and allow law enforcement to focus on exploitation. Committee members asked for charging data and noted comparisons with Rhode Island and New Zealand.
Senator Vahulski introduced S.54 on Feb. 21, a bill that would decriminalize consensual adult sex work while keeping human‑trafficking laws intact, she told the Judiciary Committee.
"This bill does not legalize sex work. It decriminalizes it," Senator Vahulski said, characterizing the measure as similar in approach to earlier cannabis decriminalization efforts.
Vahulski told the committee that current statutes date back more than a century and include vague terms that sweep in conduct beyond paid transactions. She said criminalization creates stigma and can deter trafficking victims and other survivors from reporting crimes. "By criminalization, we're actually making it harder for trafficking victims to come forward," she said.
The senator cited international and interstate examples, saying reported sex‑trade crimes fell after Rhode Island decriminalized indoor prostitution in the 2000s and that New Zealand has seen declines in violence against sex workers since decriminalization more than 20 years ago. She also referenced public‑health findings, noting that decriminalization can improve access to health services and reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted infections.
Committee members asked whether prosecutors track how often sex‑work statutes are charged. "I don't actually have any information on how often this is charged, but I think that would be a really important question to get answered," Vahulski replied, and suggested the Department of State's Attorneys could provide counts by county.
In the discussion the senator and members emphasized distinctions between consensual sex work and human trafficking, noting that trafficking involves force, fraud or coercion and arguing that decriminalization would free law‑enforcement resources to pursue violent and exploitative crimes.
No formal vote or amendment on S.54 was taken at the Feb. 21 hearing. Vahulski said she was "happy to take questions" and the committee moved on to other agenda items.
The committee did not produce charging statistics or a fiscal analysis at the hearing; members requested follow‑up information and additional testimony.
The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider additional bills in upcoming meetings; Vahulski's office did not announce a target date for committee action on S.54 at the Feb. 21 session.
