Louisiana is one of the first states to pass legislation that makes it a crime to create or possess an AI-generated image or video depicting a person under the age of 18 engaged in a sexual act. Penalties are steep, up to 20 years in jail.

Selling or advertising deepfake sexual material depicting minors could result in an even tougher sentence, up to 30 years in jail.

State Sen. Jeremy Stine, District 27, and State Rep. Alonzo Knox, District 93, authored Sen. Bill No. 175 (Act No. 457), which goes into effect Tuesday, Aug. 1.

This is just one of the 44 new bills Gov. John Bel Edwards signed into law this year.

Also going into effect on Tuesday, is House Bill 8 (Act 264). All Louisiana K-12 public schools, colleges and universities are required to hang a sign in each classroom which says, “In God We Trust.”

Calcasieu Parish School Board spokesperson Holly Holland, said schools are already in compliance with signage in each building, a statue that came out a few years back.

“As per the new law, we will be providing signs for all teachers to display in their classrooms. Our plan is to be completely compliant.”

Haughton Republican Rep. Dodie Horton authored HB8, which received 100 yeas, no nays.

SB 7 (Act 436) limits what minors can check out at public libraries, materials and other books deemed “sexually explicit.” Libraries have until January 2024 to adopt a policy and until June 2024 to implement it.

Act 215, first known as HB 68, authorizes public schools to offer an elective course in the history and literature of the Bible. The law says the course must maintain religious neutrality and not use any particular translation of the Bible for the course, according to gov.louisiana.gov newsroom.

HB 121 (Act 219) requires public schools K-5th grade to provide at least 15 minutes of recess per day.

Act 214, initially known as HB 55 or the “Mental Healing Justice for Incarcerated People Act” goes into effect Tuesday. The law allocates funding for access to better mental health services in state prisons, screens those inmates for mental health disorders, and intends to otherwise expand access to mental health treatment behind bars.

Act 399, or HB 90, enacts varying but harsher penalties for those convicted of selling fentanyl. Depending on the amount, sellers could face up to life in prison and at least 25 years of that sentence without the possibility of parole.

Act 193, or SB 169, requires State Police to track rape kits from collection through storage through conviction. The state police are allowed to implement the tracking system in phases, but must fully participate by next summer.

HB 5 (Act 439) allows mothers of children to recoup 50% of out-of-pocket pregnancy-related medical expenses from the biological father within a certain time period.