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Bill > HB2310
VA HB2310
VA HB2310Use of communications system to expose sexual or genital parts to a child; penalty.
summary
Introduced
01/08/2025
01/08/2025
In Committee
02/12/2025
02/12/2025
Crossed Over
02/04/2025
02/04/2025
Passed
02/19/2025
02/19/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
03/21/2025
03/21/2025
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Use of communications system to expose sexual or genital parts to a child; penalty. Creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person 18 years of age or older who uses a communications system, including computers or computer networks or bulletin boards, or any other electronic means, with lascivious intent, to expose his sexual or genital parts to any person he knows or has reason to know is a child to whom he is not legally married and such child is 15 years of age or older. Under current law, it is a Class 5 felony for any person 18 years of age or older to use such communications system for the purposes of soliciting, with lascivious intent, any person he knows or has reason to believe is a child younger than 15 years of age to knowingly and intentionally commit certain sexual activities, including exposing his sexual or genital parts to any child to whom he is not legally married or proposing that any such child expose his sexual or genital parts to such person. It is also a Class 5 felony under current law for any person to commit such acts with any child he knows or has reason to believe is at least 15 years of age but younger than 18 years of age if such person is at least seven years older than the child. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference.
AI Summary
This bill modifies Virginia's existing laws regarding the use of communication systems to expose sexual or genital parts to a child by creating a new Class 1 misdemeanor offense. Specifically, the bill adds a provision that makes it unlawful for any person 18 years of age or older to use a communications system (such as computers, networks, or electronic means) with lascivious intent to expose their sexual or genital parts to a child who is 15 years of age or older and to whom they are not legally married. This new provision represents a less severe criminal classification compared to existing laws that address similar behaviors with children under 15, which are currently classified as Class 5 felonies. The bill aims to provide legal consequences for inappropriate digital sexual exposure to older children, filling a potential gap in existing legislation. The modification is part of Virginia's ongoing efforts to protect minors from sexual exploitation and inappropriate digital interactions, and was recommended by the Virginia Criminal Justice Conference.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0261) (on 03/21/2025)
Official Document
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