SB 42 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

CRIME/PUNISHMENT: Prohibits using artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse materials. (8/1/26)

SB 42 amends Louisiana law to explicitly prohibit using artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse materials, directly affecting individuals or entities generating such content through AI. The bill updates definitions to include "digitally generated, including by artificial intelligence" under "child sexual abuse materials" and expands "produce" to cover causing AI-generated content. It makes it illegal to create, distribute, or solicit child sexual abuse materials using AI tools, aligning with existing prohibitions on physical or non-AI generated materials. The law applies to all such content involving children under 17, treating AI-generated depictions as equally prohibited as traditional media. This is a substantive policy change adding AI to existing legal frameworks without altering enforcement mechanisms.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 10, 2026 Signed Jun 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB42 Original SB42 Act 892 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill expands the definition of 'child sexual abuse materials' to explicitly include images generated by artificial intelligence, ensuring that digitally created depictions of children in sexual situations are treated the same as traditional photographs. It also broadens the definition of 'produce' to cover causing AI to generate these materials, closing a potential loophole where creators could avoid prosecution by claiming they did not physically take a photo. These changes are critical for modernizing laws to address emerging technology while maintaining strong protections for minors.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from covering only traditional media (photographs, videotapes) to include any visual representation created by electronic or digital means, specifically naming artificial intelligence.
DEFINITION

Added 'artificial intelligence' and 'digitally generated' images to the definition of 'child sexual abuse materials'.

Expanded the definition of 'produce' to include causing AI to generate child sexual abuse materials, not just photographing or filming them.

Updated the definition of 'child' to include both real people under 17 and visual representations of them created by digital means.

TECHNICAL

Removed the original digest and summary sections that described the proposed changes, as the bill was enacted into law.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 23, 2026 · House May 7, 2026

How they voted

370
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 39
Mar 23, 2026
D Democratic11
11 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican28
26 Yea 2
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
36
Key actions
13
Committee
12
Amendments
2
May 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
upper
May 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 91, nays 0. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.
lower
May 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.
lower
May 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays.
upper
May 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.
lower
May 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference committee report received.
upper
May 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate conference committee members appointed: Edmonds, Cloud, and Hodges.
upper
May 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
upper
May 18, 2026
Introduced
Notice of Senate rejecting House amendments.
lower
May 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 90, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 29, 2026
Introduced
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
lower
Apr 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (11-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.
upper
1 primary · 44 co-sponsors

Sponsors