A318 • 2025

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

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Catalina Cruz
Last action: 2026-05-26
Official status: Assembly Floor Calendar
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

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

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

What This Bill Does

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

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-05-26 Assembly
AMENDED ON THIRD READING 318A
2026-02-26 Assembly
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.262
2026-02-25 Assembly
REPORTED
2026-01-07 Assembly
REFERRED TO CODES
2025-01-08 Assembly
REFERRED TO CODES

Official Summary Text

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

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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:

     1    Section 1. Section 245.15 of the penal law is amended by adding a  new
     2  subdivision 5 to read as follows:
     3    5. IT SHALL NOT BE A DEFENSE TO ANY CRIMINAL ACTION BROUGHT AGAINST AN
     4  INDIVIDUAL  PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION THAT SUCH DISSEMINATION OR PUBLICA-
     5  TION OF AN INTIMATE IMAGE IS PROTECTED BY A RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.
     6    § 2. Section 52-b of the civil rights law is amended by adding  a  new
     7  subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
     8    6-A.  IT SHALL NOT BE A DEFENSE TO ANY CIVIL ACTION BROUGHT AGAINST AN
     9  INDIVIDUAL PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION THAT SUCH DISSEMINATION OR  PUBLICA-
    10  TION OF AN INTIMATE IMAGE IS PROTECTED BY A RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.
    11    § 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