VirginiaHB6292026 Regular SessionHouse

Sex offenses, certain; sexual extortion, unlawful creation of image of another, penalties.

Sponsored By: Katrina Callsen (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Certain sex offenses; sexual extortion; unlawful creation of image of another; penalties. Provides that any person who, with the intent to cause the complaining witness to engage in certain sexual acts, maliciously (i) threatens in writing, including electronically, (a) to disseminate, sell, or publish a videographic or still image, created by any means whatsoever, or (b) to not delete, remove, or take back a previously disseminated, sold, or published videographic or still image, created by any means whatsoever, that depicts the complaining witness or such complaining witness's family or household member, as defined in relevant law, as totally nude or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast or (ii) threatens eviction, loss of housing, property damage, or any financial loss, but such complaining witness does not thereby engage in such sexual acts is guilty of attempted sexual extortion and shall be punished as prescribed by relevant law.The bill also adds to the existing offense of unlawfully creating an image of another a prohibition on any person knowingly and intentionally creating any videographic or still image by any means whatsoever of any nonconsenting person if that person is not exposed to show the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast but such videographic or still image is obscene, as defined in relevant law, when such nonconsenting person is in a restroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed, tanning booth, bedroom, or other location. A violation of such prohibition is a Class 1 misdemeanor unless such nonconsenting person is younger than the age of 18, in which case it is elevated to a Class 6 felony.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Ban on nonconsensual intimate image recording

The law makes it a crime to knowingly make photos or videos of someone without consent when they are nude, in underwear, undressed, or when a camera is placed under clothing, in places where they expect privacy. The base penalty is a Class 1 misdemeanor. If the person recorded is under 18, it is a Class 6 felony. If a person has two or more qualifying convictions in the last 10 years, a new offense is a Class 6 felony; the prior crimes must be on different dates, not part of the same act or scheme, and the person must have been at liberty between them. Police and jail staff may make images for lawful investigations and jail security, and sound recorded during permitted video is also exempt.

Stronger penalties for sexual extortion

The law makes sexual extortion a felony. It is a Class 5 felony to threaten, in writing or by electronic message, to share, sell, or not delete someone’s nude or obscene images to force sex, and the person then engages in the act. It is also a Class 5 felony to threaten eviction, loss of housing, property damage, or other financial harm to force sex, and the person then engages in the act. If no sexual act occurs, trying to coerce this way is still a crime and is punished under the state attempt law. If an adult uses the image threat against someone under 18, the penalty is 1 to 20 years in prison and up to a $100,000 fine. If an adult uses the housing or money threat against someone under 15, the same 1 to 20 years and up to $100,000 applies.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Katrina Callsen

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 237 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/9/2026

Passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/5/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/4/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/25/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

House vote 2/17/2026

Read third time and passed House Block Vote

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote 2/13/2026

Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 2/11/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0539)

    4/10/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 539 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/10/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/25/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

    3/25/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB629)

    3/18/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB629ER)

    3/14/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    3/14/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    3/14/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    3/14/2026House
  10. Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/9/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    3/9/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/6/2026Senate
  13. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    3/5/2026Senate
  14. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/5/2026Senate
  15. Rules suspended

    3/5/2026Senate
  16. Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

    3/4/2026Senate
  17. Reported from Courts of Justice and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

    2/25/2026Senate
  18. Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

    2/18/2026Senate
  19. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/18/2026Senate
  20. Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/17/2026House
  21. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/17/2026 9:59 am)

    2/17/2026House
  22. Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/17/2026 9:55 am)

    2/17/2026House
  23. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/16/2026House
  24. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB629)

    2/16/2026House
  25. committee substitute agreed to

    2/16/2026House

Bill Text

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