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West VirginiaSB 2402025 Regular SessionSenate

Updating crime of sexual extortion

Sponsored By: Bill Hamilton (Republican)

Signed by Governor

§61-2-13§61-8B-6

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Broader extortion protections and offender penalties

The law broadens protections against direct, indirect, or implied threats used to obtain something of value. Threats can target a person, their spouse, child, or family or household member, including harm to things they value. The law also counts sexual acts and private images as forms of consideration. Penalties depend on whether anything of value is obtained and include 1–10 years of confinement, fines of $1,000–$5,000, or both.

Juvenile consequences for sexual extortion

Someone under 18 at the time of a sexual extortion offense is treated as delinquent under juvenile law. A circuit court handles the case under the state's juvenile rules. The court may order behavioral health counseling as a condition of community supervision or its decision on the case. Counseling is not guaranteed.

New prison terms for sexual extortion

West Virginia protects victims by making sexual extortion a felony. It covers knowingly and intentionally sharing, arranging to share, or threatening to share someone's private sexual image to force action or inaction. The target can be the victim, their spouse, child, or a family or household member living with them. The offender must seek more private images, something valuable, or other consideration, including sexual acts. Prison terms are 1–5 years for a first offense, 3–10 for a second, and 10–20 for later offenses. Aggravated cases carry 10–20 years when an adult targets someone under 18 or a vulnerable adult. That penalty also applies when sexual extortion causes serious bodily injury or death, with that causal link proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecution is allowed in a county where the threat was made or received. The act takes effect 90 days after passage.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Bill Hamilton

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Vince Deeds

    Republican • Senate

  • Patricia Rucker

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 160 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/14/2025

Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 109)

Yes: 31 • No: 0

House vote • 3/10/2025

Passed House (Roll No. 44)

Yes: 97 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/24/2025

Passed Senate (Roll No. 21)

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 75, Acts, Regular Session, 2025

    8/8/2025Senate

  2. To Governor 3/18/2025 - House Journal

    3/26/2025House

  3. Approved by Governor 3/25/2025 - House Journal

    3/24/2025House

  4. Approved by Governor 3/24/2025

    3/24/2025Senate

  5. To Governor 3/18/2025 - Senate Journal

    3/19/2025Senate

  6. To Governor 3/18/2025

    3/18/2025Senate

  7. House received Senate message

    3/17/2025House

  8. House Message received

    3/14/2025Senate

  9. Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 109)

    3/14/2025Senate

  10. Communicated to House

    3/14/2025Senate

  11. Completed legislative action

    3/14/2025Senate

  12. On 3rd reading, Special Calendar

    3/10/2025House

  13. Read 3rd time

    3/10/2025House

  14. Passed House (Roll No. 44)

    3/10/2025House

  15. Communicated to Senate

    3/10/2025House

  16. On 2nd reading, Special Calendar

    3/7/2025House

  17. Read 2nd time

    3/7/2025House

  18. Amendment reported by the Clerk

    3/7/2025House

  19. Amendment adopted (Voice vote)

    3/7/2025House

  20. On 1st reading, Special Calendar

    3/6/2025House

  21. Read 1st time

    3/6/2025House

  22. Do pass

    3/5/2025House

  23. Markup Discussion

    3/3/2025House

  24. House received Senate message

    2/25/2025House

  25. Introduced in House

    2/25/2025House

Bill Text

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