SB 121 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Updating language and increasing penalties for indecent exposure

SB 121 creates a new felony offense for indecent exposure involving minors in West Virginia, specifically requiring exposure of genitals (penis, vagina, or anus) to children under 14. It mandates sex offender registration for convictions, increases penalties for repeat offenses (including fines and imprisonment), and removes the breastfeeding exemption due to clearer definitions. The bill amends West Virginia Code sections §61-8-9 and §61-11-18 to define the offense, establish registration requirements under the Sex Offender Registration Act (§15-12-2), and classify it as a qualifying offense for enhanced sentencing. This directly affects individuals convicted of exposing genitals to minors, with stricter consequences for multiple violations.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Mar 11, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version Committee Substitute · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to significantly expand the scope of indecent exposure penalties, adding a new felony offense for exposing oneself to minors and requiring sex offender registration for third offenses. The Committee Substitute also added provisions for recidivist sentencing enhancements and clarified definitions of indecent exposure. These changes increase public safety protections for minors and create stricter consequences for repeat offenders.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from covering general indecent exposure to specifically targeting exposure to minors as a separate felony offense, and added registration requirements for those convicted of the new felony offense.
SCOPE

New felony offense created for indecent exposure in front of minors (under 16 years of age)

REQUIREMENT

Sex offender registration now required for those convicted of the new felony offense involving minors

ENFORCEMENT

Enhanced penalties for repeat offenders, with third offenses now classified as felonies

Recidivist sentencing enhancements added for qualifying offenses including the new indecent exposure felony

DEFINITION

Clarified definition of indecent exposure to specifically require exposure of nude penis, vagina, or anus

Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2025

How they voted

320
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 33
Mar 10, 2025
D Democratic2
2 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican31
30 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Mar 11, 2025
Committee
To House Judiciary
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Committee
To Judiciary
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (Roll No. 78)
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute reported
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
To Judiciary
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors