HB 7287 / PA 25-168 (2025 state budget act), Section 261 — Connecticut unlawful dissemination of an intimate synthetically created image

Summary

Section 261 of Connecticut Public Act 25-168 (HB 7287, the 2025 state budget act) creates the offense of unlawful dissemination of an intimate synthetically created image. It covers intentionally disseminating, without consent, an intimate image of an identifiable person that is wholly or partly computer-generated and virtually indistinguishable from a real depiction, knowing it is synthetic and intending viewers to be deceived, where the person depicted is harmed or the image was made to harm them. The offense is a class D misdemeanor, rising to class C for wide online dissemination and class A where the image was made with intent to harm. The act was approved June 30, 2025; Section 261 took effect October 1, 2025.

Key dates

1. June 30, 2025Enacted
2. October 1, 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. AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATE BUDGET FOR THE BIENNIUM

   Supports: The public act is the budget act

   Sec. 261. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) A person is guilty of unlawful dissemination of an intimate synthetically created image when

   Supports: Offense and effective date

   image to (1) a person by any means is a class D misdemeanor, except that if such person violated subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of this section, a class A misdemeanor

   Supports: Penalty

   Approved June 30, 2025

   Supports: Approval date

   Public Act No. 25-168 (HB 7287) Connecticut General Assembly Primary source

2. It also made disseminating "synthetically created" revenge porn a crime as of Oct. 1, 2025.

   Supports: Offense created through the budget bill

   CT AI laws: what passed this session CT Mirror Reporting or analysis