SB778 • 2026

Display of obscene material to a minor unlawful; penalty.

An Act to amend and reenact § 18.2-374.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to display of obscene material to a minor unlawful; penalty.

Children Crime

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Obenshain
Last action: 2026-04-06
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on enforcement or exact penalties beyond classifying the crime as a Class 6 felony.

Making It Illegal to Show Obscene Material to Young Children

This law makes it a serious crime for adults to show obscene material, including child pornography or videos meant to groom children, to kids under age 13 with the intent of enticing them into sexual activities.

What This Bill Does

Changes existing laws to make showing obscene material to minors younger than 13 illegal if done with lascivious intent.
Defines 'obscene material' as items that are considered offensive and inappropriate for minors, including child pornography or videos meant to groom children into sexual activities.
Makes it a Class 6 felony crime if an adult shows such material with the intent of enticing or encouraging sexual behavior in a minor under 13 years old.

Who It Names or Affects

Adults who show obscene material to minors younger than 13 with lascivious intent.
Children under age 13 who might be exposed to such material.

Terms To Know

Obscene Material: Items that are considered offensive and inappropriate for minors, including child pornography or videos meant to groom children into sexual activities.
Lascivious Intent: The purpose of showing obscene material with the intent to entice, solicit, or encourage a minor into engaging in sexual behavior.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how much it will cost to enforce this law.
Does not provide details on how the law will be enforced or what penalties might apply beyond classifying the crime as a Class 6 felony.

Bill History

2026-04-06 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 348 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-06 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 348 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-06 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0348)
2026-03-17 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB778)
2026-03-14 Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
2026-03-14 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-13 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-13 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-13 Senate
Enrolled
2026-03-13 Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB778ER)
2026-03-09 House
Read third time
2026-03-09 House
Passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-06 House
Read second time
2026-03-04 Appropriations
Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
2026-03-03 Transportation & Public Safety
Assigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety
2026-03-02 Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
2026-02-25 Criminal
Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N)
2026-02-24 House
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-24 House
Read first time
2026-02-24 Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
2026-02-23 Criminal
Assigned HCJ sub: Criminal
2026-02-13 Senate
Read second time
2026-02-13 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-13 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-13 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-13 Courts of Justice
Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
2026-02-13 Senate
Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-13 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-13 Senate
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-12 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-12 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-12 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-12 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-11 Finance and Appropriations
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
2026-02-09 Courts of Justice
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB778)
2026-02-06 Courts of Justice
Committee substitute printed 26107281D-S1
2026-02-06 Courts of Justice
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (2/6/2026 10:47 am)
2026-02-04 Courts of Justice
Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
2026-01-23 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB778)
2026-01-23 Senate
Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/23/2026 3:08 pm)
2026-01-22 Senate
Presented and ordered printed 26105663D
2026-01-22 Courts of Justice
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

Official Summary Text

Display of obscene material to a minor unlawful; penalty.
Makes it a Class 6 felony for any person 18 years of age or older to display obscene material, as defined in relevant law, to a minor younger than 13 years of age with lascivious intent. Current law only prohibits the display of child pornography or a grooming video or materials to a child younger than 13 years of age by a person 18 years of age or older.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend and reenact §
18.2-374.4
of the Code of Virginia, relating to display of obscene material to a minor unlawful; penalty.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
18.2-374.4
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
18.2-374.4
. Display of obscene material, child pornography, or grooming video or materials to a child unlawful; penalty.
A. Any person 18 years of age or older who displays
any obscene item or material, including
child pornography or a grooming video or materials to a child
under
younger than
13 years of age with
the

lascivious
intent to entice, solicit, or encourage the child to engage in the
touching or
fondling of
the
his own
sexual or genital parts
, the touching or fondling of the sexual or genital parts
of another
,
or the
touching or
fondling of his sexual or genital parts by another,
or masturbation,
sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, or object sexual penetration is guilty of a Class 6 felony.
B.
"Grooming
For purposes of this section:
"Grooming
video or materials" means a cartoon, animation,
video, photograph,
image, or series of images depicting
a child
any person (i) totally nude; (ii) in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks, or female breast; or (iii) not exposed but the material is obscene and such person is
engaged in the
touching or
fondling of the sexual or genital parts of another
or
,
the
touching or
fondling of his sexual or genital parts by another, masturbation, sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anilingus, anal intercourse, or object sexual penetration.
2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to §
30-19.1:4
of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 725 of the Acts of Assembly of 2025 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to §
30-19.1:4
of the Code of Virginia, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation is $0 for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.