ND: Lawmakers discuss adding computer-generated images to definition of child pornography

Source: northdakotamonitor.com 1/20/25 Possessing a computer-generated image of child pornography would be punishable as a felony in North Dakota under a bill discussed Monday by state lawmakers. House Bill 1386 adds images created by artificial intelligence to state law prohibiting the possession of child pornography.  Deputy Attorney General Claire Ness strongly urged members of the House Judiciary Committee to advance the bill. “Computer-generated images and artificial intelligence have opened a new world for the cruel individuals who make, possess, or trade (child sexual abuse materials),” Ness said. The bill would make possessing computer-generated…

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MD: Legislators warned of ‘enormous liability’ related to sex abuse lawsuits

Source: marylandmatters.org 1/20/25 Potential settlement could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions, potentially billions for 3,500 cases involving allegations of sexual abuse against state agencies An effort by Gov. Wes Moore (D) to resolve a $3 billion budget deficit could be hampered by hundreds of millions — potentially billions — in settlements related to a 2023 law that eliminated statutory limits on lawsuits filed by survivors of child sexual abuse. News of the potential liability under the Child Victims Act of 2023 came at the same meeting where members of the…

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Government Files Brief in Pending SORNA Challenge

Source: ACSOL The federal government has filed a brief in response to the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation in November 2024.  The government brief includes a cross motion for summary judgment.  The plaintiffs in the case, including ACSOL, have an opportunity to file a reply to the government’s brief no later than February 16, 2025. The focus of this case are SORNA regulations that became effective in January 2022.  A lawsuit challenging the regulations was filed  in October 2022. “One important change in this case…

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ND: Bill would allow sex offenders to petition to remove themselves from state registry

Source: inforum.com 1/17/25 MINOT — House Bill 1231, introduced by state Rep. Jason Dockter, would create a petition through which convicted sex offenders could petition the courts to remove themselves from the state’s offender registry, which Attorney General Drew Wrigley’s office maintains. This is an excellent idea. We ought to do away with the offender registry, as it is a resource-hogging exercise in futility, but let’s talk about the legislation before us first. “After seven years of registration, a sexual offender assigned a low-risk level by the attorney general may petition the sentencing…

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