The Colorado House Judiciary Committee convened on May 3, 2025, to discuss significant amendments to Senate Bill 288, focusing on the definition of exploitative material involving minors.

The meeting began with the adoption of a previous amendment, followed by a detailed discussion led by Representative Soper regarding a new amendment aimed at refining the bill's language. This amendment seeks to clarify the definition of exploitative material by specifically addressing the use of identifiable images of underage children. The proposed changes emphasize that it is not necessary for prosecutors to prove the actual identity of the child depicted, only that the image represents an identifiable minor.

During the discussion, Representative Soper highlighted the importance of this amendment in light of testimony from Jessica Dauter, who referenced a database maintained by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). This database can identify individuals, such as a 12-year-old girl from Russia, as minors without needing to confirm their legal names or residency status in Colorado.

The committee adopted this amendment without objection, indicating a consensus on the need for clearer legal definitions to protect minors from exploitation. Following this, Representative Soper introduced another amendment related to the posting of private images for harassment, although details on this amendment were less clear due to the complexity of legal terminology.

The meeting underscored the legislature's commitment to addressing child exploitation and harassment through precise legal frameworks, reflecting ongoing concerns about the safety and rights of minors in the digital age. Further discussions and amendments are expected as the bill progresses through the legislative process.