For the most part, the 2025 legislative session has concluded across the country, with only a handful of states still in special or biennial sessions that will carry into next year. This year saw a troubling wave of bills increasing penalties for people who consensually purchase sex from adults. At the same time, legislatures gave significant attention to survivor-centered measures, including proposals for criminal record relief and sentence mitigation for trafficking survivors. Encouragingly, 2025 also marked a record-breaking year for the number of decriminalization bills introduced.
Below, we highlight the legislation that passed — some advancing the rights and safety of sex workers, others exacerbating criminalization — as well as notable bills still under consideration in states where sessions remain active.
Newly Enacted Laws
Hawaii (HB689/SB292): Lawmakers enacted safe harbor protections for people seeking help in good faith. While the law is framed around “sex trafficking survivors,” the immunity provisions also apply to consensual adult sex workers. Individuals cannot be arrested, prosecuted, or penalized when seeking medical assistance or reporting crimes. However, because of the bill’s explicit “End Demand” language, these protections do not extend to clients who report crimes they witness.
Rhode Island (S278/H5358): Rhode Island passed a bill creating immunity protections for sex workers reporting crimes. The law does not extend to clients but provides affirmative defense protections for trafficking survivors. The state also enacted H5348/S269, removing mandatory HIV testing for those convicted of commercial sexual activity and replacing it with an opt-in model. Additionally, the Governor signed H5357/S296, repealing fees that had been imposed only on women convicted of prostitution.
Vermont (S12): Vermont expanded its sealing and expungement laws to cover prostitution-related convictions, including solicitation and selling sex.
Harmful New Laws
Mississippi (HB1189): Lawmakers added mandatory fines of up to $1,000 for prostitution solicitation convictions.
Utah (HB22 & HB38): Two harmful bills were enacted. HB22 makes prostitution a felony for people who are HIV positive. HB38 sharply increases fines for solicitation and makes it easier to escalate charges to felonies using out-of-state convictions.
California (AB379): California created a new crime of loitering with the intent to purchase sex, punishable by fines up to $1,000.
New Hampshire (SB267 & HB405): SB267 increases penalties for solicitation, while HB405 created new offenses related to “illicit massage businesses” and expanded liability for property owners.
Louisiana (HB5): Dramatically increases penalties for buyers, raising fines and jail time for those purchasing sex from adults.
Passed but Vetoed
Nevada (AB209): Lawmakers passed a safe harbor bill offering immunity protections, but the measure was significantly narrowed through amendments, limiting protections mostly to medical assistance and excluding witnesses. Governor Joe Lombardo vetoed the bill.
Still in Play: Bills Under Consideration
Because some state legislatures remain in session, a handful of important bills are not yet decided:
Massachusetts (H1747, H1980, H1587/S1256, H1755, H2634): Several DSW-sponsored bills remain active, including immunity legislation, full decriminalization, and expansions of protections against police sexual violence.
New York (A1029/S3967): A DSW-sponsored immunity bill has passed the legislature and awaits the governor’s signature. Help get it signed here.
Wisconsin (AB84/SB138): A proposal mandating a $5,000 fine for solicitation remains in committee.
Pennsylvania (HB632/SB647): Pending bills would remove enhanced HIV penalties tied to prostitution and allow resentencing for past convictions.
