The bill amends West Virginia's Code regarding civil remedies for the unauthorized disclosure of intimate images, specifically under section 55-20-3. It clarifies that the provisions apply to cases of sexual extortion and establishes that liability for such offenses is joint and several among defendants. The bill allows individuals who are identifiable and suffer harm from the intentional or threatened disclosure of their private intimate images, without their consent, to pursue legal action against the responsible party. It also specifies that consent to the creation of an image or previous consensual disclosures do not, by themselves, imply consent to further disclosures.

Additionally, the bill reinforces that individuals maintain a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding intimate images, even if those images were created in public settings, as long as they did not consent to the sexual conduct depicted. The legislation aims to strengthen protections for victims of unauthorized image disclosures and ensure that those who violate these protections face appropriate civil penalties. The changes will take effect 90 days after passage, on June 12, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 55-20-3
Engrossed Version: 55-20-3
Enrolled Version: 55-20-3