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What to know about the revenge porn bill on Gov. Healey's desk
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TGIF! The Celtics could win their 18th NBA championship banner tonight — and the Red Sox even moved up the start of their game against the rival New York Yankees so fans can watch the C’s.
But first, we have a lot of news to cover:
On Beacon Hill: Following years of failed efforts, Massachusetts is on the verge of banning revenge porn. The state Senate voted 38-0 yesterday to send compromise legislation passed unanimously by the House earlier this week to Gov. Maura Healey’s desk. Currently, Massachusetts and South Carolina are the only states in the country without laws criminalizing the distribution of sexually explicit media of someone without their consent. “We’re recognizing it as a form of sexual assault,” said Nithya Badrinath, the policy director of Jane Doe, a local advocacy group for domestic and sexual violence survivors.
- The bill would close a loophole in the state’s current laws that allow individuals to share nude or semi-nude images of someone else against their will, if the photo or video was originally taken or shared consensually. Those found guilty of non-consensually sharing such images would face criminal penalties of up to two and a half years of prison time and/or a fine of up to $10,000. “Survivors can actually get recourse,” Badrinath said.
- The bill would also cover AI-created images. Lawmakers say such “deepfake” revenge porn can be equally traumatizing for victims, but Massachusetts currently doesn’t have a law against it.
- Additionally, the bill proposes a more lenient approach toward teens — who can currently be charged with violating child pornography laws and have to register as sex offenders for possessing or sharing images of themselves or other minors. As an alternative, the bill would create a state-run diversion program to teach teens caught sexting about the potential consequences of this behavior.
- What’s next: Healey still needs to review the bill, but her office says she has “long supported legislation to ban revenge porn.” Healey “appreciates the Legislature’s work on moving this important bill forward,” a spokesperson for the governor said.
The wait goes on: The MBTA’s South Coast Rail project is getting delayed — again. During two meetings last night, T officials revealed that commuter rail service to Fall River and New Bedford won’t begin until May 2025. The new timeline comes eight months after the T delayed the original end-of-2023 start date until this summer.
- What’s the hold up? The Herald News reports that construction of the new East Taunton station is only 75% done, due to material delays and “challenges getting the elevators to work properly.” Officials still have to do months of testing and inspections. According to the T, the first test trains will hit the tracks Monday.
Getting the green light: Amid fears of a weed drought on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket this summer, the Cannabis Control Commission issued an order yesterday spelling out rules to allow the drug to be shipped to the islands for the first time. In order to avoid violating federal laws against cannabis, the order says the shipment must go via approved boats that remain within state territorial waters. (That means dispensaries won’t be able to use the Steamship Authority’s ferries, but only separate, approved boats.)
- Meanwhile at the CCC: The commission also voted yesterday to strip its acting executive director, Debbie Hilton-Creek, of her role overseeing day-to-day operations. WBUR’s Walter Wuthmann and Beth Healey have more on the controversial move here.
Tip culture: The ballot campaign to raise the minimum wage for tipped employees in Massachusetts is another step closer to going before voters this fall. The state’s top court rejected a legal challenge seeking to derail the question yesterday. That means the question is likely headed to the November ballot, as long as supporters clear one final — and relatively small — signature hurdle (assuming legislators don’t cobble together another eleventh-hour grand bargain.)
- On the docket: We’re still waiting to hear what the Supreme Judicial Court says on two other ballot question challenges regarding rideshare driver classification and unionization — as well as the court’s decision on the state’s lawsuit arguing that Uber and Lyft are misclassifying drivers as independent contractors.
Save the date: Big news for Bay Staters eyeing a new laptop or pair of shoes in the near future. State lawmakers have set Massachusetts’ annual sales tax holiday weekend for Aug. 11-12 this year. The two-day break from the state’s 6.25% sales tax is good for most items under $2,500. (Read the list of excluded items, plus other rules here.)
P.S.— Who is the New England Aquarium’s oldest inhabitant? Take our Boston News Quiz to find out!
