Bill > SB617

This bill makes several changes to Oregon criminal law affecting domestic violence, criminal responsibility, sexual offenses involving children, and privacy invasion. Specifically, the bill clarifies that an admission or finding of domestic violence is not an additional element of a crime for merger purposes, which means such a finding won't automatically increase the severity of a criminal charge. The bill modifies the legal standard for being found "guilty except for insanity" by requiring that a person's criminal incapacity be primarily the result of a qualifying mental disorder. For crimes involving children, the bill expands the definition of "sexually explicit conduct" to include situations where a child's intimate body parts are observed or recorded with the specific intent of sexual arousal, regardless of the child's awareness. Additionally, the bill enhances sentencing guidelines for invasion of personal privacy in the first degree, creating a more severe sentencing category (Category 8) when the victim is a minor. These changes apply to conduct occurring on or after the bill's effective date and aim to provide clearer legal definitions, protect minors, and refine how certain criminal offenses are categorized and prosecuted.

Justice

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/SB617