Hawaii Senate passes anti-paparazzi ‘Steven Tyler Act’

Hawaii's state Senate passed the "Steven Tyler Act" on Tuesday, a bill meant to protect celebrities from overreaching paparazzi.

The bill would make taking unwanted photos or encroaching on private moments a civil violation. It passed with 23 votes out of 25, with Sen. Sam Slom, the Senate's only Republican, voting against the measure, according to the Associated Press.

Also called SB465, the bill enables a paparazzo to be sued "if the person captures or intends to capture, in a manner that is offensive to a reasonable person, through any means a visual image, sound recording, or other physical impression of another person while that person is engaging in a personal or familial activity with a reasonable expectation of privacy," according to E! Online.

Critics, including journalism and media groups, have said the bill would restrict free speech.

It was introduced by Sen. Kalani English, at Tyler's request. Tyler owns a house in English's district.

Tyler testified during a hearing for the measure in February, saying that exposure was part of being a celebrity. "But when I am in my own home and I am taking a shower or changing clothes or eating or spending Christmas with my children, and I see paparazzi a mile away at La Paruse shooting at me with lenses this long and then seeing that same picture in People magazine, it hurts," he said during the hearing, according to Hawaii Reporter.

The bill now goes to the House.