‘Sexting’ bill passes House on unanimous, 70-0 vote

Rep. Greg Chaney, R-Caldwell, says current Idaho law treats young people who “sext” – take and send nude or provocative photos of themselves to a boyfriend or girlfriend – as child pornographers and requires them to register as sex offenders. His bill, HB 555 , would ease the penalty for the young person themself, making it a misdemeanor that can be expunged, rather than a felony sex crime. Chaney said both prosecutors and public defenders testified in favor of the bill in committee; it passed the House today on a unanimous, 70-0 vote. The bill now moves to the Senate side.