In my last column, I wrote about some positive news for the fight against domestic abuse. More came out of the session that will help other victims as well.

House Bill 276 addressed artificial intelligence modifications relating to counterfeit intimate images and digital content. The Digital Voyeurism Prevention Act prohibits AI image generation services from distributing nonconsensual intimate deepfakes without verified consent, according to Ashlee Taylor, executive director of The Refuge Utah.

The act also requires platforms to remove flagged images within 48 hours. Victims can sue for emotional distress, punitive damages and attorney fees without proof of actual damages required to make a claim. Each distribution counts as a separate violation with a statute of limitations of three years from discovery or 10 years from the violation date.

House Bill 102 addresses a crime victim’s right to privacy. Victims can now request that their initials appear on charging documents and publicly available criminal justice documents rather than their full names. This adds to existing protections that prohibit compelling victims to disclose their addresses, phone numbers, employers or other locating information in the majority of circumstances. “Overall, this increased privacy increases the protection and respect of survivors,” Taylor said.

House Bill 89 limits the use of a polygraph on the victim of a sexual offense. Law enforcement, prosecutors, courts and government officials are now prohibited from requiring survivors to submit to a polygraph test or using refusal as grounds to stall or drop a case.

“Polygraph requirements have long discouraged survivor reporting, despite their limited usefulness. Removing this barrier will encourage more survivors to report all the while making the process less stressful and invasive,” Taylor said.

Utah Senate Joint Resolution 1 amending rules of evidence concerning crimes or other acts will have a positive impact on victims. This resolution expands federal rules of evidence for adult state cases, allowing a judge to decide whether evidence of prior sexual assault and child molestation cases can be introduced as evidence of propensity to commit the charged crime. This is a process that was previously not allowed.

According to Taylor, this significant shift gives survivors and prosecutors a powerful tool in court as prior acts that previously may have been inadmissible can now be used to establish a pattern of predatory behavior.

Voters can nudge their representatives to continue to do what is right for victims of domestic abuse and other crimes. Check out information about legislators, voting records, bills and more at le.utah.gov.