Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Rivera legislation protecting children from online victimization and hazing heads to the governor’s desk: Bill tightens mandated reporter obligations in the age of AI

Rivera legislation protecting children from online victimization and hazing heads to the governor’s desk: Bill tightens mandated reporter obligations in the age of AI

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    October 21, 2026 | 5:08 PM

HARRISBURG, Oct. 21 – Bipartisan legislation to better protect Pennsylvania’s children from sexually explicit Artificial Intelligence-generated deepfakes and hazing is headed to the governor’s desk, according to the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster.

House Bill 2474 expands Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law to cover more forms of harm to children, including harm caused by other children. This bill adds the unlawful distribution of intimate images, sexually abusive materials, hazing and aggravated hazing to the offenses that must be reported. 

The bill requires all mandated reporters, not just school personnel, to quickly report to Childline, the statewide toll-free number for reporting child abuse and well-being concern, whenever they have reasonable cause to believe child sex abuse material exists or that hazing or aggravated hazing has occurred. Materials include AI-generated material or material created or shared by a minor.

The Department of Human Services will then forward each report to law enforcement so authorities can act quickly. The bill will ensure that authorities can immediately act to protect children and prevent further harm. The law will take effect 90 days after enactment

“The rise of AI has made our children more vulnerable to exploitation and bullying so we’re acting decisively to protect our children from this evolving threat--AI-generated deepfakes--by passing this bill,” Rivera said. “This legislation is a commonsense, urgently necessary step that clarifies mandated reporters’ responsibilities, supports investigators’ efforts to track down perpetrators and reinforces our commitment to protecting the safety and dignity of every student in Pennsylvania.”

Rivera said two incidents in Lancaster and Bucks counties -- both involving students using artificial intelligence to spread sexually explicit images of their classmates -- prompted her and co-sponsor state Rep. Kristin Marcell, R-Bucks, to introduce the bill.

In 2023, two students at a Lancaster County private school used AI to create sexually explicit deepfake images of 48 schoolmates and 12 other students. In 2025, two Bucks County public middle school students created sexually explicit deepfake images depicting 12 fellow female students, which were then shared among other students in the district. In both cases, the dissemination of the pornographic AI images went unreported to law enforcement, resulting in more child sexual abuse material being shared and more victims being targeted.

“House Bill 2474 makes it crystal clear that mandated reporters must immediately report to authorities when a child is creating child sexual abuse material or hazing another student,” Rivera said. “By taking the guesswork out of the equation, this bill goes a long way toward ensuring that all adults responsible for children report crimes against minors in a timely, efficient manner to prevent any further abuse. This necessary reform of our mandated reporting requirements will strengthen our system of care and make our children safer.”