Latest news with #HB602
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
TN must protect victims of non-consensual recordings. This is digital assault.
As a lawmaker, one of my core responsibilities is to listen to the concerns of my community and take meaningful action to address the issues that affect the lives of everyday people. In Tennessee, one of those issues has been the growing concern over non-consensual recordings, particularly in the context of intimate relationships. Women have become victims of a disturbing and invasive crime. That's why House Bill (HB) 602 was introduced, the "Voyeurism Victims Act," a bill designed to provide more justice for victims of hidden cameras and unauthorized recordings. This legislation was born from the stories of women who were secretly recorded during intimate moments − women like Erika Thomas, who was unable to seek justice because the statute of limitations had already passed. By the time Erika discovered she had been recorded, the legal window for prosecution had closed. This is a reality that far too many victims face in our digital age, where technology makes it easier to commit such offenses but harder to hold offenders accountable once the damage is done. HB 602 aims to change that by addressing the statute of limitations. Under current law, the clock starts ticking on the statute of limitations when the crime occurs, not when the victim learns they've been harmed. In cases of non-consensual recording, victims often have no idea they've been filmed until years later. Our bill changes the law so that the statute of limitations starts when the victim discovers the crime, not when it happens. This simple change will ensure that those who violate people's privacy will not escape justice simply because the victim was unaware of the crime until much later. In addition to extending the statute of limitations, HB 602 also proposes that offenders who target multiple victims should face stronger legal penalties. The bill would classify these offenses as an E felony if there are multiple victims involved. This stronger penalty reflects the severity of the crime and sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the exploitation of women, or anyone for that matter, through hidden cameras or non-consensual recordings. Opinion: Federal funding for victims services is drying up. Tennessee must fill the gap. By making it a felony offense, we increase the legal consequences for offenders, deterring future violations and protecting victims in the process. Some might ask why this issue requires such urgent attention. The answer is simple: technology is advancing, and so are the ways in which criminals exploit it. With the advent of smartphones, smart devices, and hidden cameras, it's easier than ever for perpetrators to invade someone's privacy without their knowledge. Women who were once vulnerable to physical assault now find themselves at risk of digital assault − an invisible, often more insidious violation. When these videos go viral, when they circulate on the internet, they leave a permanent scar on the victim's life. The damage to their reputation, sense of safety, and personal well-being can be devastating. Opinion: Sign up for the Tennessee Voices newsletter showcasing opinion across the Volunteer State This bill isn't just about punishment − it's about empowerment. It's about giving victims the legal tools they need to seek justice, even if they only learn about the crime years after it was committed. It's about acknowledging that privacy is a fundamental right, and that no one should ever have to fear being secretly recorded during intimate moments. By supporting HB 602, we are standing up for those who have been harmed and ensuring that those who would commit these crimes cannot hide behind the technology they misuse. Finally, I want to emphasize that HB 602 is about more than just changing the law; it's about giving victims a voice. As Erika Thomas told us, she felt empowered by her decision to testify, even though she couldn't press charges. She chose to speak out not just for herself but for other women who might be suffering in silence. I believe that HB 602 is a critical step forward in ensuring that victims of non-consensual recordings are given the protections and opportunities for justice they deserve. It's a step toward a safer, more accountable future for everyone. State Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville, represents House District 56 in the Tennessee General Assembly. Bob Freeman is also the president of Freeman Webb Company in Nashville, Tenn., a full-service real estate investment and management firm that specializes in the acquisition, management and rehabilitation of multi-family residential and commercial properties. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Non-consensual recording victims need Tennessee's protection | Opinion
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers want student loan ban for Georgians with criminal convictions, campus conduct violations
Members of the Georgia House of Representatives filed a bill to ban any Georgian with a criminal conviction from being eligible to receive student loans, grants or scholarships for higher education. This would include programs like the HOPE Scholarship or Zell Miller Scholarship in Georgia. The bill also includes violations of an institution's code of conduct, which may not be the same as a criminal conviction. House Bill 602 includes both. The ban would be in effect for students for two academic years post-conviction beginning at the first day of term, quarter or semester of enrollment following such conviction or determination of responsibility. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The inclusion of both a criminal conviction or being found responsible for an institutional conduct violation is in part predicated on how disciplinary actions are handled on college campuses in Georgia. Accusations of violations are typically investigated by individual institutions. A finding of responsibility for a conduct violation is not, legally, the same as a criminal conviction, though criminal investigations and conduct investigations can be performed simultaneously, and one can lead to another at the discretion of those overseeing the proceedings. TRENDING STORIES: 5 Georgia Social Security Administration offices to close amid Trump administration overhauls Delta flight with more than 200 people on board forced to turn back after engine issue Popular Buckhead barbershop making its final cut after nearly 70 years HB 602 would make it so any postsecondary education institution in the state of Georgia that receives state funds would be subject to the proposed bill. It also makes note that the proposed bans would apply to not just criminal offenses but conduct violations surrounding disruptive conduct on campus. As for what the bill defines as disruptive, lawmakers included the following actions: Engaging in fighting, violence or other unlawful behavior Damaging or defacing property Physically blocking, making violent threats or creating loud or sustained noise or vocalization to prevent others from attending, seeing or participating in an expressive activity Materially disrupting entering or exiting or using campus facilities without the institution's consent Materially violating reasonable time, place and manner restrictions made by the institution Engaing in harassment [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
