Assembly Bill A318

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Prohibits speech-based defenses to actions brought against an individual for the unlawful dissemination of publication of an intimate image

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

Do you support this bill?

Please enter your contact information

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.
Actions

2025-A318 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Assembly Codes
Law Section:
Penal Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §245.15, Pen L; amd §52-b, Civ Rts L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:
A6874

2025-A318 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Prohibits speech-based defenses to actions brought against an individual for the unlawful dissemination of publication of an intimate image.

2025-A318 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    318
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (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:
 
   Section 1. Section 245.15 of the penal law is amended by adding a  new
 subdivision 5 to read as follows:
   5. IT SHALL NOT BE A DEFENSE TO ANY CRIMINAL ACTION BROUGHT AGAINST AN
 INDIVIDUAL  PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION THAT SUCH DISSEMINATION OR PUBLICA-
 TION OF AN INTIMATE IMAGE IS PROTECTED BY A RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.
   § 2. Section 52-b of the civil rights law is amended by adding  a  new
 subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
   6-A.  IT SHALL NOT BE A DEFENSE TO ANY CIVIL ACTION BROUGHT AGAINST AN
 INDIVIDUAL PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION THAT SUCH DISSEMINATION OR  PUBLICA-
 TION OF AN INTIMATE IMAGE IS PROTECTED BY A RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.
   § 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

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.