A 2767 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Modifies child endangerment statute to include AI technology; establishes criminal penalties.

This bill amends New Jersey's child endangerment law to specifically address AI technology that can simulate sexual conduct with children. It makes it a crime (a fourth-degree offense) for anyone who creates, uses, or promotes such AI tools if they cause or allow a child to be subjected to simulated sexual conduct, unless the AI was designed to avoid sexual interactions with children. The law applies to online distribution, sharing, or promotion of these technologies and includes clear definitions to cover digital contexts like file-sharing networks. It directly affects developers, distributors, and users of AI tools capable of generating inappropriate content for children, without criminalizing AI designed to protect children.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 16, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Technical Review Of Prefiled Bill → Introduced · 4 edits · Jan 13, 2026

MODERATE

The bill moved from a committee technical review stage to formal introduction, with one co-sponsor (Assemblyman Karabinchak) removed. A new STATEMENT section was added at the end explaining the bill's purpose: it amends the child endangerment statute to create a fourth-degree crime for knowingly or recklessly causing a child to be subjected to sexual conduct through automated interactive computer technology (AI chatbots), with an exception for AI systems that have safety features designed to stop sexual interactions when a child is detected.

Scope change

The bill's scope is now more clearly defined through the added statement: it targets automated interactive computer technology (AI chatbots) used to subject children to sexual conduct, creating a new fourth-degree offense (up to 18 months imprisonment, fine up to $10,000) distinct from existing second- and third-degree child endangerment crimes.

SCOPE

A STATEMENT section was added explaining the bill creates a new fourth-degree crime under N.J.S.2C:24-4 for using automated interactive computer technology (AI) to subject a child to sexual conduct that would impair or debauch the child's morals. The offense covers creation, control, possession, manipulation, use, dissemination, sale, or promotion of such technology.

ELIGIBILITY

An exception was added for AI technology that has safety features specifically designed to stop a chatbot from simulating sexual conduct when it detects that a user is a child.

TECHNICAL

Assemblyman Karabinchak was removed from the list of co-sponsors.

The bill status changed from 'As reported by the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee with technical review' to 'Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel,' reflecting a procedural stage change rather than a policy change.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 16, 2026

Committee

Reported and Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Committee

Transferred to Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee

lower

3 primary · 8 co-sponsors