Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Protecting our children: reporting reform legislation advances from committee: Bill tightens mandatory reporter obligations in the age of AI

Protecting our children: reporting reform legislation advances from committee: Bill tightens mandatory reporter obligations in the age of AI

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    May 4, 2026 | 3:55 PM

HARRISBURG, May 4 – The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee today voted unanimously to approve legislation that would modernize the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law, to reflect the emerging threat of artificial intelligence to child safety, according to the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster.

House Bill 2474 would require schools and the more than 70 entities under mandated reporting law to quickly report sexually explicit deepfake images of minors to law enforcement. The bill would ensure that authorities can immediately act to protect kids and prevent further harm.

According to Rivera, two incidents in Lancaster and Bucks counties – both of which concerned students using artificial intelligence to spread sexually explicit materials of their classmates – spurred her and co-sponsor, state Rep. Kristin Marcell, R-Bucks, to introduce the bill.

In 2023 in Lancaster County, two private school students used AI to make sexually explicit deepfake images of 48 schoolmates and 12 other students. In 2025 in Bucks County, two public middle school students created sexually explicit deepfake images depicting 12 fellow female students, which was then shared among other students in the district.

In both cases, the dissemination of the pornographic AI deepfake images went unreported to law enforcement, which resulted in more child sexual abuse material being shared and more victims targeted.

“This necessary piece of legislation would reform mandatory reporting requirements to ensure that law enforcement is notified at the earliest possible moment when child abuse is suspected,” Rivera said. “Our bill would strengthen our system of care and make our children safer.”

"AI and social media pose unique threats to the wellbeing of children, so we must adjust and clarify mandatory reporters' obligations to include AI deepfake images," she added. "Taking the guesswork out of the equation will go a long way to ensure that all adults responsible for children will report crimes against minors in a timely, efficient manner."

House Bill 2474 now moves to the full House for consideration.