Bill Status of HB 2954   103rd General Assembly

Short Description:  CIVIL LIABILITY FOR DOXING ACT

House Sponsors
Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz-Bob Morgan-Justin Slaughter-Curtis J. Tarver, II-Dan Ugaste, Daniel Didech, Jonathan Carroll, Ann M. Williams, Terra Costa Howard, Kelly M. Cassidy, Kevin John Olickal, Kelly M. Burke, Margaret Croke, Eva-Dina Delgado, Dagmara Avelar, Jaime M. Andrade, Jr., Mary Beth Canty, Laura Faver Dias, Maura Hirschauer and Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar

Senate Sponsors
(Sen. Julie A. Morrison-Laura Fine-Sara Feigenholtz-Mary Edly-Allen, Ann Gillespie, Karina Villa, Michael W. Halpin, Ram Villivalam, Adriane Johnson, Doris Turner, Laura M. Murphy, Steve Stadelman and Elgie R. Sims, Jr.)


Last Action  View All Actions

DateChamber Action
  8/4/2023HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0439

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
New Act

Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Civil Liability for Doxing Act. Provides that an individual engages in the act of doxing when that individual intentionally publishes another person's personally identifiable information without the consent of the person whose information is published and: (1) the information is published with the intent that it be used to harm or harass the person whose information is published and with knowledge or reckless disregard that the person whose information is published would be reasonably likely to suffer death, bodily injury, or stalking; and (2) the publishing of the information: (i) causes the person whose information is published to suffer significant economic injury or mental anguish or to fear serious bodily injury or death of the person or a family or household member to the person; or (ii) causes the person whose information is published to suffer a substantial life disruption. Allows a person who is aggrieved by a violation of the Act to bring a civil action against the individual who committed the offense to recover damages and obtain any other appropriate relief. Provides that an individual who is found liable under the Act shall be jointly and severally liable with each other individual, if any, who is found liable under the Act for damages arising from the same violation of the Act. Allows a court to issue a temporary restraining order, emergency order of protection, or preliminary or permanent injunction to restrain and prevent the disclosure or continued disclosure of a person's personally identifiable information or sensitive personal information. Allows a civil action to be brought in any county in which an element of the offense occurred, or in which a person resides who is the subject of the personally identifiable information or sensitive personal information published in violation of the Act.

House Floor Amendment No. 1
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Adds a definition of "emotional distress". Replaces references to "mental anguish" with "emotional distress". Makes changes to the definitions of "family or household member", "publish", "stalk", and "substantial life disruption". Authorizes a court to issue an order to prevent the publication of personally identifiable information or sensitive personal information if certain requirements are met. Requires any injunctive relief that is granted to contain specified elements. Deletes a provision which specified that the Act was to be construed liberally.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  2/16/2023HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
  2/16/2023HouseFirst Reading
  2/16/2023HouseReferred to Rules Committee
  2/17/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Daniel Didech
  2/17/2023HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Bob Morgan
  2/17/2023HouseChief Co-Sponsor Changed to Rep. Bob Morgan
  2/17/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jonathan Carroll
  2/22/2023HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter
  2/28/2023HouseAssigned to Judiciary - Civil Committee
  3/8/2023HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee; 014-000-000
  3/8/2023HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
  3/8/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Ann M. Williams
  3/8/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Terra Costa Howard
  3/8/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
  3/8/2023HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Dan Ugaste
  3/8/2023HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Curtis J. Tarver, II
  3/8/2023HouseChief Co-Sponsor Changed to Rep. Curtis J. Tarver, II
  3/8/2023HouseChief Co-Sponsor Changed to Rep. Dan Ugaste
  3/9/2023HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
  3/14/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
  3/14/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
  3/15/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Judiciary - Civil Committee
  3/15/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal
  3/15/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Burke
  3/15/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Margaret Croke
  3/15/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado
  3/15/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Judiciary - Civil Committee; 014-000-000
  3/16/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted
  3/16/2023HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
  3/16/2023HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
  3/21/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar
  3/21/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr.
  3/21/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Mary Beth Canty
  3/21/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias
  3/21/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer
  3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar
  3/22/2023HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 113-000-000
  3/23/2023SenateArrive in Senate
  3/23/2023SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading
  3/23/2023SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison
  3/23/2023SenateFirst Reading
  3/23/2023SenateReferred to Assignments
  3/24/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Fine
  3/24/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz
  3/24/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
  4/12/2023SenateAssigned to Judiciary
  4/26/2023SenateDo Pass Judiciary; 009-000-000
  4/26/2023SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 27, 2023
  4/26/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Ann Gillespie
  4/26/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa
  4/27/2023SenateSecond Reading
  4/27/2023SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 2, 2023
  5/2/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin
  5/2/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Ram Villivalam
  5/2/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson
  5/2/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner
  5/5/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura M. Murphy
  5/10/2023SenateThird Reading - Passed; 055-000-000
  5/10/2023HousePassed Both Houses
  5/11/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Steve Stadelman
  5/15/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr.
  6/8/2023HouseSent to the Governor
  8/4/2023HouseGovernor Approved
  8/4/2023HouseEffective Date January 1, 2024
  8/4/2023HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0439

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