All Roll Calls
Yes: 220 • No: 0
ArkansasHB18772025 Regular SessionHouse
CONCERNING CRIMINAL OFFENSES RELATED TO POSSESSION OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL THAT DEPICTS A CHILD; AND TO INCLUDE A COMPUTER GENERATED IMAGE THAT IS INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM THE IMAGE OF A CHILD.
Sponsored By: Joshua Bryant (Republican), Stephen Meeks (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Online child abuse crimes cover AI
Arkansas expands its crime of electronically helping arrange or encourage sexual conduct involving children to cover qualifying computer-made images. It covers knowingly facilitating, encouraging, offering, or soliciting sexually explicit conduct involving a child or someone believed to be a child. The law also covers using an online service to lure or entice a child. Drawings, cartoons, sculptures, and paintings are outside the definition of an image indistinguishable from a child. The offense remains a Class B felony.
Child image crimes now cover AI
Arkansas expands child sexual image crimes to cover images made or changed with artificial intelligence that look like real children. The law covers knowingly advertising, buying, selling, sharing, shipping, receiving, possessing, controlling, or viewing covered material, including through the internet. Its digital-material definition also covers realistic computer-made images showing a minor nude or in a prohibited sexual act. An ordinary person must conclude the image shows an actual child; drawings, cartoons, sculptures, and paintings are outside this definition. Exceptions cover possession, control, or intentional viewing during a genuine law enforcement investigation and qualifying third-party content through online services. Another exception covers good-faith, controlled AI safety testing with an AI developer, following National Institute of Standards and Technology guidance. Testing must aim to prevent, detect, or reduce harmful AI images; personal, exploitative, or unrelated uses do not qualify.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Joshua Bryant
Republican • Senate
Stephen Meeks
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Brandon Achor
Republican • House
Brit McKenzie
Republican • House
Glenn Barnes
Democratic • House
Lincoln Barnett
Democratic • House
Howard M. Beaty, Jr.
Republican • House
Rick Beck
Republican • House
Mary Bentley
Republican • House
Harlan Breaux
Republican • House
Keith Brooks
Republican • House
Cindy Crawford
Republican • House
Jon S. Eubanks
Republican • House
Tony Furman
Republican • House
Zack Gramlich
Republican • House
Steve Hollowell
Republican • House
Julie Mayberry
Republican • House
Jeremiah Moore
Republican • House
Karilyn Brown
Republican • House
Jack Ladyman
Republican • House
Robin Lundstrum
Republican • House
Roger D. Lynch
Republican • House
Matt Brown
Republican • House
Matthew J. Shepherd
Republican • House
John Maddox
Republican • House
Mindy McAlindon
Republican • House
Richard McGrew
Republican • House
Jessie McGruder
Democratic • House
Jon Milligan
Republican • House
Jason Nazarenko
Republican • House
Stetson Painter
Republican • House
Shad Pearce
Republican • House
Rebecca Burkes
Republican • House
Marcus E. Richmond
Republican • House
Ryan A. Rose
Republican • House
Johnny Rye
Republican • House
Kendon Underwood
Republican • House
DeAnn Vaught
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/16/2025
House Vote - Wednesday, April 16, 2025 1:25:10 PM
Yes: 92 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/10/2025
Senate Vote - Thursday, April 10, 2025 4:15:12 PM
Yes: 35 • No: 0
House vote • 4/8/2025
House Vote - Tuesday, April 8, 2025 2:36:16 PM
Yes: 93 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Notification that HB1877 is now Act 977
4/22/2025HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
4/16/2025HouseTO BE ENROLLED
4/16/2025HouseSenate amendment # 1 read and concurred in.
4/16/2025HouseReturned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass, concur in Senate Amendment No. 1
4/15/2025HouseRe-referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE
4/10/2025HouseReturned from Senate as passed, as amended # 1
4/10/2025HouseReturned to the House as passed as amended # 1 .
4/10/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/10/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
4/9/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
4/9/2025SenatePlaced on second reading for purpose of amendment.
4/9/2025SenateRules suspended.
4/9/2025SenateReturned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1
4/9/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - SENATE
4/8/2025SenateReceived from the House.
4/8/2025SenateRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
4/8/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
4/7/2025HouseAmendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
4/7/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
4/7/2025HouseReturned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass as amended 1
4/3/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY COMMITTEE- HOUSE
3/20/2025HouseFiled
3/20/2025House
Bill Text
HB1877 - Introduced
3/20/2025
Act Version
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