Senate committee backs bill to require sex‑offender registration for invasive visual recordings

The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice voted to report House Bill 14 65 favorably, a bill that would require persons convicted of invasive visual recording in places where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists — such as bathrooms, bedrooms or changing rooms — to register as a sex offender under state law.

Testimony in favor included emotional, on‑record testimony from a woman who described discovering hidden recordings and later seeing the perpetrator convicted on related charges but receiving a sentence she described as insufficient. “I fully support House Bill 14 65 and will continue to support and advocate for anyone else who has been affected by invasive visual recording,” the witness told the committee, describing long‑term trauma and saying registration would provide a measure of public notice and deterrence.

Jennifer Tharpe, a county criminal district attorney, told senators the bill adds a narrowly drafted definition of places where a person can reasonably expect to disrobe in privacy and requires a specific‑intent mental state for the offense in those places. Tharpe said prosecutors increasingly see cases involving cameras hidden in vents, shoe cameras used to film under skirts, and cameras placed in bedrooms and bathrooms. She told the committee that victims often prioritize public notice and protection of others; adding the offense to the sex‑offender registry would create a broader public‑safety tool.

Committee members asked about juvenile cases and the risk of criminalizing common conduct among teenagers. Prosecutors on the panel said juvenile‑specific statutes such as sexting laws exist and juvenile cases are handled under the family code, which focuses on rehabilitation. The committee voted 6–0 to report HB 14 65 favorably to the full Senate.