Technology

HB 2350 updates child pornography laws to explicitly include "artificially generated visual depictions" of minors. The bill defines these as images that are obscene, indistinguishable from real minors, morphed from real minor images, or created without any actual minor involvement. This change makes it illegal to create, distribute, or possess such AI-generated images that depict minors in sexually explicit conduct. The law directly affects anyone producing or sharing synthetic media that mimics real minors, aligning definitions with emerging technology risks.

HB 1780 creates a legal process for Missouri website owners facing lawsuits alleging violations of accessibility laws (like the ADA) to challenge whether such lawsuits are "abusive." It allows defendants to file a civil action asking courts to determine if the lawsuit's primary purpose was obtaining payment for defense costs, not fixing website access. Courts must consider factors like the plaintiff's history of similar lawsuits, defendant resources, and whether the website was corrected within 30 days (creating a presumption the lawsuit is abusive if not corrected within 90 days). The law expires if the federal government issues ADA website accessibility standards.