HB 2654 Virginia House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Unlawful dissemination of intimate images of another; creates a tiered system of penalties.

Summary
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 18.2-386.2 and 19.2-8 of the Code of Virginia, relating to unlawful dissemination of intimate images of another; penalties.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Feb 4, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Courts of Justice Subcommittee Substitute · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended from its original introduced version to a substitute version by the Courts of Justice Subcommittee. The most significant changes involve modifying the definition of 'intimate image' to exclude commercial publications, reorganizing the offense categories, and adjusting the statute of limitations for prosecutions. These changes aim to clarify the law's application and ensure consistent enforcement standards.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by adding an exemption for images published by commercial enterprises for public use, and the structure of offenses was reorganized to better distinguish between different levels of intent and harm.
DEFINITION

Added an exemption stating that intimate images published by commercial enterprises for public use are not covered under the law.

Clarified that 'another person' includes images created using machine learning or computer-generated means to depict actual people.

ENFORCEMENT

Reorganized subsections B through D to better distinguish between unauthorized dissemination without harmful intent versus dissemination with malicious intent or for financial gain.

TIMELINE

Changed the statute of limitations for misdemeanor violations of § 18.2-386.2 from five years after commission OR one year after discovery, to five years after commission OR three years after discovery.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Jan 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (5-Y 3-N)
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Committee
Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 25105054D
lower
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors