Sexting among teens could be reduced to a misdemeanor under a bill being considered by a House subcommittee.

Right now teens that send or receive explicit pictures via cell phones face felony child pornography charges and must register as a sex offender.

Rep. Jay Neal (R-LaFayette) says his bill would reduce that to a misdemeanor if the teens involved are within four years apart.

“What I don’t want us to do is make youthful stupidity a felony that will create a life-long barrier for these teenagers,” he told a group of members from the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.

Neal tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish that details are still being worked out over pictures that are maliciously sent.