DENVER (AP) — A bill that provides less-severe penalties for teen sexting is on its way to the Colorado governor’s desk.
The state Senate on Thursday passed the measure, which creates a new misdemeanor crime of juvenile sexting.
It’s a compromise after years of debate over whether it should be illegal for minors to share illicit photos consensually.
Currently, having an image on a phone of another minor who is nude is considered felony pornography.
Teen sexting is common, and some prosecutors advocated for a less-severe penalty for kids doing it.
The misdemeanor crime would apply to anyone under 18 who shares an image.
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