BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho legislative panel on Thursday approved a bill to lessen charges for minors who share sexually explicit material via text message or social media.

House Bill 555 addresses so-called sexting between minors and would make most sexting between minors a misdemeanor offense. Under the new statute, a minor who mass distributes the content would be charged with a felony only after a second offense.

Republican Rep. Greg Chaney, of Caldwell, says currently a teenager who engages in sexting could be charged under the child pornography statute and labeled a felony sex offender.

He says the new measure draws a line between youthful indiscretion and evil intent, while protecting victims from pornographic extortion. The bill now goes to the House floor.

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