# Maine LD 524: An Act to Protect Children from Technology-facilitated Sexual Abuse Maine LD 524, An Act to Protect Children from Technology-facilitated Sexual Abuse, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Amy Kuhn (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-16 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 719) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD524-132 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maine LD 524 - State: Maine - Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) - Title: An Act to Protect Children from Technology-facilitated Sexual Abuse - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-11 - Last action: 2026-04-16, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 719 - Sponsor: Amy Kuhn (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: CRIMES, CRIMES - SEX OFFENSES - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (160 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Broader definitions cover AI child images: benefit, medium. The law broadens what counts as child sexual abuse material. It covers any image, including AI-made or altered images, that shows or appears to show a minor in sexual conduct. It defines image types like photos, videos, livestreams, and computer files. It defines who is an identifiable child and wh… - Crimes for making, sharing, or having CSAM: benefit, medium. The law makes it a crime to create or alter sexual images of a child, including with generative AI (Class B). It makes it a Class C crime to share or try to share this material. It makes it a Class D crime to transport, show, buy, possess, or access it with intent to view. A limited close-in-age ex… - Stronger tools to prove and seize CSAM: benefit, low. The law gives prosecutors clearer tools. The child's age is measured at the time of the sexual conduct shown, not when the file was later shared or viewed. Age and whether someone is an identifiable child can be inferred from the image or proven by expert testimony. Maine can prosecute if the perso… - Minor now means under age 16: cost, medium. The law changes minor to mean under age 16 in these chapters. People who are 16 or 17 are no longer treated as minors under these rules. This can change how crimes and defenses apply to 16- and 17-year-olds. - Tougher sentences and higher image threshold: mixed, medium. The law adds mandatory prison time for certain crimes. Courts must give at least 5 years for listed offenses, and at least 10 years for others. A judge cannot suspend the minimum without written reasons. If the victim is under 12, that age counts as an aggravating factor. An inference of intent to… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Amy Kuhn (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-24 | House | Enactment - Emer | pass | 128 | 0 | | | 2026-02-10 | Senate | ACCEPTANCE OF REPORT | pass | 32 | 0 | | ## Actions (11) - 2026-04-16: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 719 - 2026-04-14: On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table Subsequently, PASSED TO BE ENACTED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence. (Senate) - 2026-02-26: On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT - Emergency -2/3 Elected Required in concurrence. (Senate) - 2026-02-24: This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary.PASSED TO BE ENACTED.ROLL CALL NO. 619(Yeas 128 - Nays 0 - Absent 20 - Excused 1 - Vacant 2)Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2026-02-12: COMMITTEE ON BILLS IN THE SECOND READING REPORTS NO FURTHER VERBAL AMENDMENTS NECESSARY. REPORT ACCEPTED.READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-789), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Report READ. On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ACCEPTANCE of the Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-789) Report. Roll Call Ordered Taken from the table by the President ACCEPTANCE of the OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-789) Report PREVAILED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 710 Yeas 32 - Nays 0 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-789) READ and ADOPTEDASSIGNED FOR SECOND READING NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY. (Senate) - 2026-02-03: CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-789).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-06-25: Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800. (House) - 2025-03-21: Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519. (House) - 2025-02-11: The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY in concurrence (Senate) - 2025-02-11: Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) ## Bill text - Amendment C-A (H-789), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0343&item=2&snum=132) - Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0343&item=3&snum=132) - Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0343&item=1&snum=132) ## Related bills - LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program (failed) - LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement (failed) - LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families (failed) - LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (failed) - LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State Employees (failed) - LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (failed) ## Sources - [Amendment C-A (H-789), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0343&item=2&snum=132) - [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0343&item=3&snum=132) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0343&item=1&snum=132) ## Related - [LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1522-132) - [LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2067-132) - [LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1665-132) - [LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retiremen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1872-132) - [LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1611-132) - [LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1294-132) - [Maine bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine/bills) - [Maine state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD524-132 (as of 2026-10-17).