Bill > SB1298

This bill amends Virginia law to expand and clarify provisions related to harassing telephone communications. The bill defines new terms like "over any telephone" to include electronically transmitted communications and introduces the term "robocall" to mean automated phone calls with prerecorded messages. It establishes two levels of offense: a Class 1 misdemeanor for using obscene, threatening, or indecent language with intent to harass, and a more serious Class 6 felony for making 50 or more calls to the same person within 48 hours or 50 or more calls to multiple family or household members of a person within 48 hours. The bill also creates a rebuttable presumption that using robocalls to make such communications is intended to coerce, intimidate, or harass. These changes aim to provide stronger legal protections against persistent, harassing telephone communications by increasing potential penalties for repeat offenders and expanding the definition of harassing communication to include modern communication technologies.

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https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1298