Senate Bill No. 42, introduced by Senator Edmonds, aims to strengthen the legal framework surrounding child sexual abuse materials by explicitly prohibiting the use of artificial intelligence in their creation. The bill amends R.S. 14:81.1(B)(3) and (9) to expand the definition of "child sexual abuse materials" to include not only traditional forms such as photographs and videos but also undeveloped film and digital representations that can be generated by electronic means, including artificial intelligence. The definition of "child" is also broadened to encompass both natural persons under the age of seventeen and digitally created images that are virtually indistinguishable from real children.

Additionally, the bill revises the definition of "produce" to include the act of causing artificial intelligence to generate child sexual abuse materials, thereby closing potential loopholes that could be exploited by offenders. The proposed changes are set to take effect on August 1, 2026, and aim to enhance the protection of children from exploitation in the digital age.

Statutes affected:
SB42 Original: 14:1(B)(3)
SB42 Engrossed: 14:1(B)(3)
SB42 Reengrossed: 14:1(B)(3)