HB 1877 (Act 977 of 2025) — Arkansas child sexual abuse material offenses extended to indistinguishable computer-generated images

Summary

Arkansas Act 977 of 2025 (HB 1877) amends the state's offenses involving sexually explicit material depicting children so that they cover computer-generated images that are indistinguishable from the image of a child. It adds definitions of "indistinguishable" and "adversarial testing" and exempts good-faith adversarial testing to prevent, detect or mitigate such material, while excluding testing done for personal or exploitative purposes. Approved April 22, 2025; effective August 5, 2025.

Key dates

1. April 22, 2025Enacted
2. August 5, 2025Takes effect
3. October 16, 2026Checked against sources
4. October 21, 2026Checked against sources

Developments are added when the record is reviewed. Next review: October 16, 2027.

Evidence

Each passage is quoted from its source. The quoted passages are re-checked against the live pages every month.

1. IMAGE THAT IS INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM THE IMAGE OF A

   Supports: Scope: computer-generated images indistinguishable from a child

   APPROVED: 4/22/25

   Supports: Approval date

   Act 977 of the 2025 Regular Session (HB 1877) Arkansas State Legislature Primary source

2. The Arkansas Attorney General has opined that acts without an emergency clause or a specified effective date will become effective on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

   Supports: Effective date for acts without an emergency clause

   Arkansas 2025 legislative session summary (insurance) Mitchell Williams Reporting or analysis