Relating to civil remedies for the unauthorized disclosure of intimate images.

HB 4842 Text

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2026
REGULAR SESSION
ENROLLED
House Bill 4842
By Delegates Akers, Funkhouser, Shamblin, Ferrell, Flanigan, and Kimble
[Passed March 14, 2026; in effect 90 days from passage (June 12, 2026)]

AN ACT to amend and reenact §55-20-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to civil remedies for the unauthorized disclosure of intimate images; clarifying that the article applies to sexual extortion; clarifying that liability is joint and several; and creating civil penalties.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 20. CIVIL REMEDIES FOR UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF INTIMATE IMAGES.

§55-20-3. Civil action.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in §55-20-4 of this code, a depicted individual who is identifiable and who suffers harm from a person’s intentional disclosure or threatened disclosure of an intimate image that was private without the depicted individual’s consent including, but not limited to, a victim of the offense of sexual extortion or aggravated sexual extortion under §61-8B-6 of this code, has a cause of action against the person if the person knew or acted with reckless disregard for whether:
(1) The depicted individual did not consent to the disclosure;
(2) The intimate image was private; and
(3) The depicted individual was identifiable.
(b) The following conduct by a depicted individual does not establish, by itself, that the individual consented to the disclosure of the intimate image which is the subject of an action under this article or that the individual lacked a reasonable expectation of privacy:
(1) Consent to creation of the image; or
(2) Previous consensual disclosure of the image.
(c) A depicted individual who does not consent to the sexual conduct or uncovering of the part of the body in an intimate image of the individual retains a reasonable expectation of privacy even if the image was created when the individual was in a public place.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of §55-7-13c of this code, an individual found liable under this article shall be jointly and severally liable with each defendant, if any, found liable under this article.
The Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.

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Originated in the House of Delegates.

In effect 90 days from passage.

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The within is ................................................ this the...........................................

Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026.

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