TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING COMPUTER CRIMES AGAINST MINORS.

SB 328 amends Arkansas law to raise the age threshold for "child" in computer crimes from 17 to 18 years old. It changes the legal standard for prosecuting individuals who distribute or view sexually explicit material involving minors, requiring defendants to genuinely believe the depicted person was 18 or older to claim an affirmative defense. The bill also clarifies that courts must determine a depicted person's age using specific methods, such as personal inspection, examination of the material, or expert testimony, to prove the person was under 18. This law directly affects prosecutors, defendants, and courts handling cases involving online sexual exploitation of minors. The bill became law as Act 361 on March 20, 2025.