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Bill

S 4127

Creates the New York state social impact bond initiative

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Parker

NJ S 4127 bans non-consensual disclosure of intimate images of political candidates (including deepfakes); creates 3–5 year crime, $15k fines, and civil relief, immediate effect.

REFERRED TO FINANCE
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4127

Important note on bill identity

The information provided appears to describe a New Jersey bill (S 4127) focused on prohibiting the non-consensual disclosure of intimate images of candidates for public office, including deepfake imagery. The bill title in your prompt references a New York state social impact bond initiative, which is not reflected in the text provided. This summary covers only the introduced New Jersey content as given.

Overview

  • Bill number: S 4127
  • Introduced: February 3, 2025
  • Status (per provided text): Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee and Finance
  • Primary sponsor: Kevin S. Parker
  • Purpose: Prohibit the non-consensual disclosure of intimate images (and forged/intentionally altered images) of candidates for public office, creating criminal penalties and providing civil remedies for victims. The bill is designed to deter political interference via the non-consensual sharing of intimate material.

Key provisions

Definitions

  • Candidate: Person seeking election or reelection to any public office in New Jersey (state, county, municipality, school district, or related offices).
  • Disclose / Disclosure: Broadly defined to include selling, sharing, publishing, distributing, or making available an intimate image or forged intimate image by any means, including via the Internet, regardless of whether conducted for profit.
  • Intimate image: Any reproduction showing or implying exposure of intimate parts or engagement in sexual acts; includes images named or captioned in a way that implies it is of the named person.
  • Intimate parts / Sexual penetration: Defined consistent with New Jersey’s crimes code (N.J.S.A. 2C:14-1 et seq.).

Criminal offense

  • Subsection b: A crime of the third degree is committed if a person discloses an intimate image or forged intimate image of a candidate without the candidate’s consent, and the disclosing person knows they are not licensed or privileged to disclose. Candidate consent to being photographed or recorded does not imply consent to disclosure.
  • Consent is strictly construed to apply only to the express purpose for which it was obtained.

Civil remedies

  • Subsection c: A victim may file a civil action for injunctive or other equitable relief, as well as general or special damages, against the disclosing party. Courts may award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff. Criminal conviction is not a prerequisite for civil action.

Non-merger with invasion of privacy

  • Subsection d: Convictions under this act do not merge with convictions for invasion of privacy (N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9) and vice versa.

Effective date

  • Effective date: Immediate.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Candidates for public office in New Jersey and their potential victims.
  • Secondary: Individuals who disclose intimate or forged images; potential defendants in both criminal and civil proceedings; legal professionals handling such cases.

Penalties and remedies

  • Criminal penalties: Third-degree crime (3–5 years in prison), fines up to $15,000, or both.
  • Civil remedies: Injunctive relief, damages (general and special), and attorney’s fees if the plaintiff prevails.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced: February 3, 2025.
  • Committee referrals: Senate Judiciary Committee; Finance (as listed in the action log). The text notes “Referred to Finance” multiple times, indicating committee consideration steps typical for budgetary or fiscal impact review as part of the bill’s process.

Legislative context

  • Related/follow-on measures: Companion bill A 5250; several prior-session related bills listed (S 1888, S 5523, S 3634, S 4613, S 5001, S 5281).
  • Sponsor: Kevin S. Parker (primary).

Summary of impact

This bill targets non-consensual dissemination of intimate material of political candidates, addressing both non-forensic (actual intimate images) and forged/deepfake imagery. It creates a standalone third-degree criminal offense and supplements existing invasion-of-privacy laws with explicit civil remedies and non-merger provisions. The immediate effective date and broad definitions expand both criminal accountability and civil accountability for such disqualifying conduct, aiming to deter interference with elections and protect candidates’ privacy and safety.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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