West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB4842: Relating to civil remedies for the unauthorized disclosure of intimate images.
Status: Signed into law, April 1, 2026
What the bill says
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. 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 i.
From the enrolled text, March 14, 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. 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 (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 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 …