Assembly BillIntroducedPenal
A 318: Prohibits speech-based defenses to actions brought against an individual for the unlawful dissemination of publication of an intimate image.
What A 318 does, verified May 27, 2026
The bill aims to prohibit the use of free speech as a defense in cases where an individual is accused of unlawfully disseminating or publishing an intimate image without the subject's consent. This means that even if the person claims that sharing the image is protected by the right to free speech, they can still be held liable for their actions. The bill applies to both criminal and civil actions, making it a comprehensive approach to addressing the issue of non-consensual intimate image sharing.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: amended on third reading 318a (2026-05-26)Alert me
Author and sponsors
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| May. 26, 2026 | amended on third reading 318a |
| Feb. 26, 2026 | advanced to third reading cal.262 |
| Feb. 25, 2026 | reported |
| Jan. 07, 2026 | referred to codes |
| Jan. 08, 2025 | referred to codes |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, January 8, 2025 · 244 words
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 318 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. CRUZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes AN ACT to amend the penal law and the civil rights law, in relation to prohibiting speech-based defenses to actions brought against an indi- vidual for the unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate image The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 245.15 of the penal law is amended by adding a new 2 subdivision 5 to read as follows: 3 5. It shall not be a defense to any criminal action brought against an 4 individual pursuant to this section that such dissemination or publica- 5 tion of an intimate image is protected by a right to free speech. 6 § 2. Section 52-b of the civil rights law is amended by adding a new 7 subdivision 6-a to read as follows: 8 6-a. It shall not be a defense to any civil action brought against an 9 individual pursuant to this section that such dissemination or publica- 10 tion of an intimate image is protected by a right to free speech. 11 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD01205-01-5
Text of A 318 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions