HB581
Unauthorized use of voice or likeness; punitive damages, statute of limitations.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 11, 2026
House: Senate substitute agreed to by House (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
Chief Patron:
Jackie Glass (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Unauthorized use of name, portrait, voice, likeness, or picture of any person; digital replica; civil liability; statute of limitations.
Expands the existing ability for any person to maintain a suit in equity, including the accompanying remedies available, for the unauthorized use of his name, portrait, or picture for advertising purposes or for purposes of trade to include the unauthorized use of his voice or likeness. The bill creates civil ... (More) liability for a person who produces, distributes, or makes available the digital replica, defined in the bill, of a person's voice or likeness in an expressive audiovisual work or sound recording without first obtaining prior written consent as specified and with exceptions enumerated in the bill. The bill also extends the current statute of limitations for such civil suits from 20 years to 100 years after the death of such person. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/13/2026 - House: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103196D
- 01/13/2026 - House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 01/29/2026 - House: Assigned HCJ sub: Civil
- 01/29/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 02/02/2026 - House: Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N)
- 02/03/2026 - House: Placed on Courts of Justice Agenda
- 02/04/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26106977D-H1
- 02/04/2026 - House: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (22-Y 0-N)
- 02/06/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/09/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/09/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 02/09/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 02/10/2026 - House: Read third time and passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 02/16/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB581)
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 0-N)
- 02/18/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 02/19/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26108207D-S1
- 02/23/2026 - House: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB581)
- 03/04/2026 - Senate: Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/05/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Read third time
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Courts of Justice Substitute agreed to
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/11/2026 - House: Senate substitute agreed to by House (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
