The change is an effort to resolve a complication that has arisen nearly two decades after New Jersey adopted the nation's first Megan's Law, requiring sex offenders to register and the community to be notified.
As the law is written, teens caught "sexting" now must receive the same treatment.
Other revisions to Megan's Law in the bill would toughen penalties for adult offenders and also for those on the registry who fail to notify authorities when they move to a different home.
After Monday's passage by the Law and Public Safety committee, the bill heads to the full Assembly.
