SB 1298 Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Use of profane, threatening, etc., language over the telephone; repeated telephone contact, penalty.

Summary

Use of profane, threatening, etc., language over the telephone; repeated telephone contact; penalty. Creates a Class 6 felony for any person who uses obscene, vulgar, profane, lewd, lascivious, or indecent language, or makes any suggestion or proposal of an obscene nature, or threatens any illegal or immoral act with the intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass any person, over any telephone to (i) the same person 50 or more times within a 48-hour period or (ii) two or more family or household members of a person 50 or more times within a 48-hour period.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 9, 2025 Last action Jan 27, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Courts of Justice Substitute Offered · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its original introduction to a substitute version offered by the Senate Committee for Courts of Justice. The substantive policy content of the bill remains largely the same, but the formatting and structure were significantly altered to conform to committee substitute standards. A new definition for 'robocall' was added, and a new presumption was established that robocalls used to violate the statute are made with intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on telephone harassment and profanity, but the addition of a 'robocall' definition and rebuttable presumption expands the enforcement mechanism by making it easier to prove intent in cases involving automated calls.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'robocall' as an automated phone call using a computerized auto dialer and prerecorded message.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a rebuttable presumption that robocalls used to violate the statute are made with intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass, making it easier to prosecute such cases.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the bill structure to include committee substitute formatting, including line numbers and section headers.

FISCAL

Changed the fiscal impact language to leave blank fields for appropriation amounts, indicating the specific funding amounts were not yet determined at this stage.

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 9, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors