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WV SB240: AN ACT to amend and reenact §61-2-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend the code by adding a new section, designated §61-8B…

Effective Jun 12, 2025 West Virginia · 2025 session

Last verified Oct 12, 2026 · official bill text

SB240 · where it stands

All steps complete
  1. Introduced Complete
  2. Passed first chamber Complete
  3. Passed both chambers Complete
  4. Enacted Complete
  5. Effective Since Jun 12, 2025
What do these statuses mean?
Introduced
Filed in the legislature; may be waiting for a committee hearing.
Passed a chamber
Approved by one or both chambers; awaiting further action.
Enacted
Signed into law, or became law without a signature or over a veto.
Effective date
The date the law says it takes effect. Once it has passed, the page shows "Effective" and the date. A court order can still block a law; if we know of one, the summary says so.
Dead / vetoed
Vetoed, failed, or the session ended without action.
View full title

AN ACT to amend and reenact §61-2-13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend the code by adding a new section, designated §61-8B-6, relating to extortion, attempted extortion, sexual extortion, and aggravated sexual extortion; defining terms; including a threat to any other thing of value for purposes qualifying extortion offense; increasing criminal penalties for extortion or attempted extortion by threats; creating crime of sexual extortion; establishing criminal penalties for sexual extortion; providing circuit courts optional dispositional conditions when minor adjudicated for a sexual extortion offense; creating crime of aggravated sexual extortion; establishing criminal penalties for aggravated sexual extortion; and providing for jurisdiction for prosecution of sexual extortion offenses in multiple counties.

In one paragraph

SB 240 makes sexual extortion a felony in West Virginia: knowingly disclosing or threatening to disclose a private sexual image to coerce someone into giving more images, money or sexual acts. Because the new section defines 'image' to include a 'digital or computer-generated visual depiction', sextortion using AI-generated or fabricated nude images is covered. Penalties rise from 1-5 years for a first offense to 10-20 years, and aggravated sexual extortion (adult targeting a minor or vulnerable adult, or causing serious injury or death) carries 10-20 years.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

Platforms and image tools face no direct duties, but AI-generated sexual images used for extortion are prosecutable as felonies.

Key provisions

  1. New §61-8B-6 crime of sexual extortion using private images
  2. 'Image' includes a digital or computer-generated visual depiction
  3. Felony penalties: 1-5 years first offense, 3-10 years second, 10-20 years third or later
  4. Aggravated sexual extortion (minor or vulnerable adult victim, or serious bodily injury or death): 10-20 years
  5. Minors adjudicated delinquent, with optional behavioral health counseling
  6. Prosecution allowed where the threat was made or received

Latest legislative action

Mar 24, 2025. Approved by Governor 3/24/2025 (Chapter 75, Acts, Regular Session, 2025); effective ninety days from passage (June 12, 2025)

Topics and industries

Related topics

AI Intimate Images

Affected industries

TechnologyMedia

This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error

Related AI laws in West Virginia

All West Virginia bills →
SB198 Prohibiting creation, production, distribution, or possession of artificially ge SB454 Stop Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Deep Fake Media Act HB5548 Stop Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Deep Fake Media Act SB170 Stop Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Deep Fake Media Act HB5516 Relating to criminalizing the use of deep fakes SB720 Stop Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Deep Fake Media Act

Same topic in other states

Tennessee SB1346 AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 28 and Title 39, Chapter 17, rel Wyoming HB85 Unlawful dissemination of an intimate image. Oklahoma HB1364 Crimes and punishments; sexual obscenity; making certain acts unlawful; effectiv New Hampshire HB1319 Relative to prohibiting the nonconsensual dissemination of synthetic sexual imag Connecticut HB7287 An Act Concerning the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2027, and Ma Montana HB514 Criminalize use of real and digitally fabricated sexually explicit images