Please click on any state to learn exactly what their sexting laws cover. (Updated July, 2022)

Sexting Laws Across America

StateSexting
Law
Includes
“Sexting”
Addresses
minors
sending
Addresses
minors
receiving
Penalty:
Diversion
Penalty:
Informal
Penalty:
Misdem
Penalty:
Felony
Revenge
Porn
Law
AlabamaNONONONONONONONOYES
AlaskaNONONONONONOYESNOYES
ArizonaYESNOYESYESNONOYESNOYES
ArkansasYESYESYESYESNOYESYESNOYES
CaliforniaNONONONONONONONOYES
ColoradoYESNOYESYESYESYESYESNOYES
ConnecticutYESYESYESYESNONOYESNOYES
DelawareNONONONONONONONOYES
FloridaYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES
GeorgiaYESNOYESYESNONOYESYESYES
HawaiiYESNOYESYESNONOYESNOYES
IdahoNONONONONONONONONO
IllinoisYESNOYESNOYESYESNONOYES
IndianaYESNOYESYESNONOYESYESYES
IowaNONONONONONONONOYES
KansasYESNOYESYESNONOYESYESYES
KentuckyNONONONONONONONOYES
LouisianaYESYESYESYESYESYESNONOYES
MaineNONONONONONONONOYES
MarylandNONONONONONONONOYES
MassachusettsNONONONONONONONONO
MichiganNONONONONONONONOYES
MinnesotaNONONONONONONONOYES
MississippiNONONONONONONONOYES
MissouriNONONONONONONONOYES
MontanaNONONONONONONONOYES
NebraskaYESNOYESYESNONONOYESYES
NevadaYESNOYESYESYESYESYESNOYES
New HampshireNONONONONONONONOYES
New JerseyYESYESYESYESYESYESNONOYES
New MexicoYESNOYESYESNONONONOYES
New YorkYESNOYESYESYESYESNONOYES
North CarolinaNONONONONONONONOYES
North DakotaYESNOYESYESNONOYESNOYES
OhioNONONONONONONONOYES
OklahomaYESNOYESNONOYESYESNOYES
OregonNONONONONONONONOYES
PennsylvaniaYESNOYESYESYESYESYESNOYES
Rhode IslandYESYESYESNOYESYESNONOYES
South CarolinaNONONONONONONONONO
South DakotaYESYESYESYESNONOYESNOYES
TennesseeYESNOYESYESNONONONOYES
TexasYESNOYESYESYESYESYESNOYES
UtahYESNOYESYESNONOYESYESYES
VermontYESYESYESYESYESNONONOYES
VirginiaNONONONONONONONOYES
WashingtonYESNOYESYESYESNOYESYESYES
West VirginiaYESYESYESYESYESNONONOYES
WisconsinNONONONONONONONOYES
WyomingNONONONONONONONOproposed
FEDERALNONONONONONONONOproposed
Washington DCNONONONONONONONOYES
STATE TOTALS2792724131318747
Notes: “Includes sexting” – includes “sexting” in the statute; “Addresses minors sending or receiving” – includes provisions if youth under 18 have sent or received sexually explicit images of other youth under 18; “Diversion” – includes an option to pursue the case outside of the criminal/juvenile justice system; “Informal” – allows for/prescribes counseling or another informal sanction; “Misdem” – potential for a misdemeanor punishment; “Felony” – potential for a felony punishment. All states have some variation of a law that prohibits sending explicit or obscene material to—or depicting—minors that might apply (child pornography).