Mosinee Representative Brent Jacobson
MADISON, WI (WSAU) — The ink has barely dried on Bradyn’s Law, but local lawmakers are already looking to expand on it.
The proposal would make it easier for victims of sextortion and their families to sue for monetary damages or compensation. Mosinee Republican Brent Jacobson says it’s designed to clarify the connection between the actions of the perpetrator and the victim. “In this case, it makes complete sense that you should be able to connect the death [to] the sextortion act. In Bradyn’s case, it happened rapidly, within an hour of first contact. Clearly, there’s a connection that we want to put on the books so people have the ability to sue and recover damages,” said Jacobson.
Jacobson authored the proposal alongside Representative Pat Snyer of Weston and State Senator Jesse James of Thorp. They were also among the first to propose Bradyn’s Law following his death in March 2025 after falling victim to sextortion. Jacobson says the two proposals go hand in hand, with Bradyn’s Law focusing on criminal punishment and reform. “On the civil side, if you’re a survivor and you’ve lost money or perhaps injured yourself or suffered emotional distress, you should be able to sue and be compensated.
“What is happening far too often is people are taking their own lives as a result of this, like Bradyn did. We think that the families should be able to sue, bring a wrongful death action in civil court to collect damages from the perpetrators,” added Jacobson.
RELATED: Evers Signs Bradyn’s Law in Weston
The proposal is circulating for sponsors this week. Jacobson says he expects bipartisan support, noting that Bradyn’s Law originally passed both chambers with very little resistance before the Governor signed it during a ceremony in Weston. Though it’s unlikely that the bill will clear both the Assembly and Senate before the end of the session in February. With no further floor sessions scheduled due to the election, final consideration may be delayed to 2027.
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