Teens in Arizona may soon face criminal charges for “sexting,” a term used to describe sharing explicit photos, videos, or chats through a text message or online.

On Wednesday, a state Senate panel endorsed a bill that would result in misdemeanor charges for any minor found sending nude or explicit pictures of themselves to others, or for having or keeping such pictures on their cell phones. The law also makes it a misdemeanor offense to pass around explicit photos to anyone other than the intended recipient.

The vote in the Public Safety and Human Services Committee was unanimous, and the bill now moves to the full Senate.

The bill also gives prosecutors the option of holding teenagers accountable for their actions without charging them with child pornography—a much more serious offense. If a teen were to be convicted of child pornography, they could be ordered to register as a sex offender, possibly for life.

The bill focuses solely on underage “sexters.” An adult with explicit photos or materials of a minor still faces felony child pornography charges.

If your son or daughter has been arrested for sexting, a Phoenix criminal defense attorney who not only has experience defending clients against sex crimes, but who also has practice in juvenile defense, can provide your child with the skilled representation and dedicated legal counsel he or she needs during this unsettling time. To learn more, contact the Knowles Law Firm, P.C. today.