[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6335273,"mediaKeyId","2290157-c06255c51fed47db7e892343025d1374","parentId",2290157,"title","Senate amends bill on AI-created sexual images of minors, removes 'receives' from prohibited conduct","audioSeconds",288,"startMs",2440000,"endMs",2728000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2290157-c06255c51fed47db7e892343025d1374&start=2440&end=2728","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2290157-c06255c51fed47db7e892343025d1374/thumbnail_2440000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6335273/South-Carolina/Senate-amends-bill-on-AI-created-sexual-images-of-minors-removes-receives-from-prohibited-conduct","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6335273-0b2c8650aa661bfe38e5cd3298a78684/orig.mp4?Expires=1773333520&Signature=PwxhqOdPBpzSaDUdBCrGFf0e7tO0wtNzTK1ngPPEprOWfmInUZr8NXno7ViljedTHKdTOYEiZCl6U5knaWWDH8HcC9QpquaDqEA6rjSKzygwP5~4YkYI3uA1cctGLgfZroH2u1lzTps9jUwZCos3lESbgyD23zs1zfF07LEJxdnW0M5XAyu~TevnE71cBg5S5JULUZf~gfW9NefQVGpc5EaCATP6N77q552f~5tOlj4qKVfapguUJa~ELQeZlMVMsT1F6TkRNyIQftaC-YDFlM01V~NaBorRJLsx6QMYtUvsmeEOTfq1kLIGGmOV5ww4wLIKHZ00uh-ataIK-iUuJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Carolina Legislature","date","2025-02-12T00:00:00Z","article","The South Carolina Senate debated S.28 on Feb. 12, a bill that would criminalize certain uses of artificial intelligence to create sexualized images of children; senators adopted an amendment to strike the word “receives” from the list of prohibited conduct.

Supporters and some committee members said the bill aims to give prosecutors and law enforcement tools to combat AI-generated child sexual images by making it a felony to knowingly produce, distribute, solicit or possess with intent to distribute such visual depictions. The amendment adopted Thursday removes “receives” from that criminal list, a change sponsors said narrows exposure to people who unintentionally come into possession of such material.

The amendment’s sponsor said the “receives” language raised practical concerns for minors in school settings who might be sent illicit images without requesting them. That senator said retaining “solicits” — language added in an earlier amendment — better targets individuals who actively request the images. The sponsor also noted that the measure provides a different treatment for minors in some circumstances, where possession can be treated as a misdemeanor depending on specifics.

Under the version debated, the offense for knowingly producing, distributing, soliciting or possessing with intent to distribute AI-generated sexual depictions of minors carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years; the bill as discussed would not allow a suspended sentence in that felony provision, an element noted during floor remarks. Senators adopted the amendment to strike “receives” by voice vote; the clerk recorded “Ayes have it.” The motion to adopt was moved from the floor; there was no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript for that amendment vote.

Senators also discussed balancing criminal enforcement with the risk of criminalizing victims or minors who receive unsolicited material. One floor speaker said the receiving language could expose high-school students who are sent such images via text threads to felony charges even if they neither solicited nor distributed the photos. That concern was a principal reason given in support of the change.

After the amendment’s adoption, the presiding officer announced the bill as “contested,” and the debate continued; the transcript does not record a final passage vote for S.28 on Feb. 12.

The transcript shows related committee activity and prior amendments: senators previously added “solicits” to the prohibited conduct and discussed clerical and structural changes to align statutory citations. The bill remained under further consideration at the end of the floor session.

Because the measure touches criminal penalties, prosecutors and defenders will be the primary executors of the statute if enacted; the bill text as read on the floor referenced multiple code sections but did not specify implementation guidance or additional funding for enforcement in the recorded debate.

The Senate returned to other business after taking the S.28 amendment; no final passage of S.28 is recorded in the February 12 transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Session February 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The South Carolina Senate debated S.28 on Feb. 12, a bill that would criminalize certain uses of artificial intelligence to create sexualized images of children; senators adopted an amendment to strike the word “receives” from the list of prohibited conduct.","taxTitle","Senate, Committees, Legislative, South Carolina","taxId",17489,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6335268,"Senate advances several measures on Feb. 12; three bills pass third reading, S.29 advances 40-0 on second reading",2280,1147000,3427000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2290157-c06255c51fed47db7e892343025d1374&start=1147&end=3427","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2290157-c06255c51fed47db7e892343025d1374/thumbnail_1147000.jpg","/articles/6335268/South-Carolina/Senate-advances-several-measures-on-Feb-12-three-bills-pass-third-reading-S29-advances-40-0-on-second-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6335268-b589a9ff4cb3ba275ab7a9c175cf12de/orig.mp4?Expires=1773333520&Signature=KqKuyBk7QVo4fGtKg2swlirqIfb1afeZl8OGucFSQF2wyCnUgng-LLuBzfUKMFEH5TzO9kACN8pEyKnzMgKs~FDOapioqy5mDoudcHezG2iTfO3VxP~mUwNgzuskeOtEgi0s5GVsobXX0n-jJDNSJuBsEDrM3WNhGQ~TI4QZkKkVFtz0-mEx4KdNAU5Xw5JytGR0CrqKmWcL5CPanJntsQhW1zFBXpVKenieA7L3Lw-9A4YDsTvTJUZrPTFdmeDoPLhgkAPo-6-SVooYgXoz-L9lX0qx96Upo7lsRjhmbKmAOiYMj-UyiTcF-f1j6X~soBT2XBxIt30NuZDnJ51HOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Carolina Senate on Feb. 12 recorded multiple legislative actions: three bills won third-reading approval, one concurrent resolution was agreed to, and S.29 received a second-reading vote of 40-0.

On third reading:
- S.38 passed. The bill, as read on the floor, amends state law relating to special elections to fill vacancies in office so as to require special elections to be held only on certain enumerated dates. The presiding officer announced the third reading and, after a voice vote, recorded that the “Ayes have it.”

- S.74 passed. The bill authorizes a law enforcement officer, a circuit solicitor, or the attorney general to require disclosure of electronic communications and related records by a provider of an electronic communication service or remote computing service under certain circumstances, as read on the floor. The Senate approved third reading by voice vote.

- S.271 passed. The joint resolution suspends code provisions that prohibit the General Assembly from holding an election until a final judicial determination is made regarding review of congressional districts for the 126th General Assembly. The Senate gave third reading and recorded “Ayes have it.”

Other recorded actions:
- S.29 received a second-reading roll-call vote. The clerk recorded a roll-call tally of 40 in favor, 0 opposed; the calendar entry and committee amendments were considered on the floor prior to the roll call.

- S.311, a Senate resolution recognizing March 5, 2025, as Disability Advocacy Day in South Carolina, was agreed to by voice vote.

Several committee reports were placed on the calendar with favorable reports and amendments (for example, education-related bills requiring school boards to provide electronic transmission of meetings and rules about ticket sales), and a number of local introductions and guests were welcomed to the gallery during the session.

The Senate adjourned to meet at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13.","The South Carolina Senate passed three bills on third reading (S.38, S.74, S.271), agreed to a concurrent resolution and advanced S.29 on second reading by a roll-call vote of 40-0. Several other committee reports and introductions were placed on the calendar.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate amends bill on AI-created sexual images of minors, removes 'receives' from prohibited conduct

Senate advances several measures on Feb. 12; three bills pass third reading, S.29 advances 40-0 on second reading