MS HB241

Creates "sexting" as a delinquent act within youth court jurisdiction, prohibiting minors from knowingly producing, transmitting, disseminating, distributing, or displaying indecent visual images of themselves or other minors using computers or electronic devices.

Establishes affirmative defenses for minors who produce images depicting only themselves without intentionally sharing them, and for minors who unknowingly receive such images but promptly report them to authorities or destroy them without distribution.

Escalates violations to prosecutable misdemeanors subject to criminal conviction if the depicted minor is 3 or more years younger than the offender, force or coercion was used, or the minor has two prior adjudications for sexting violations.

Exempts minors adjudicated delinquent under this section from sex offender registration requirements.

Allows minors convicted or charged under other provisions prior to the act's effective date of July 1, 2020 to appeal for penalty reduction and reclassification as a misdemeanor.