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119-hr-8323119th CongressWALLET

SOUL Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]

Introduced

Summary

Grants U.S. citizens exclusive control over their "unique likeness". The bill defines likeness very broadly to include names, images, voices, biometric and genetic identifiers, avatars, deepfakes, and other digital replicas, and it protects those rights for the life of the person plus 50 years.

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  • Individuals and heirs: Owners (U.S. citizens) would get exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, display, perform, or make derivative works of their unique likeness. Rights vest automatically, are inalienable except by voluntary waiver or license, and last the owner's life plus 50 years.
  • Platforms and hosts: Platforms that host user content would face liability if they fail to remove unauthorized digital replicas after a valid takedown notice, though a good-faith removal process may qualify for a safe harbor consistent with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
  • Creators, AI firms, and users: The bill would prohibit unauthorized synthetic media and deepfakes and allow civil remedies. Courts could award actual or statutory damages of $750 to $30,000 per violation, with willful violations up to $150,000. Fair use, First Amendment protections, law enforcement, and certain medical or research uses under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act are exempted.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

New ownership rights over your likeness

If enacted, the bill would define a wide set of personal traits as your "unique likeness," including name, photo, voice, biometric and genetic markers, avatars, and deepfakes. It would give a U.S. citizen the exclusive right to control reproductions, displays, distributions, performances, and derivative works of that likeness. Those rights would vest automatically, be inalienable except by voluntary waiver or license, and last for your life plus 50 years. Some biometric uses for law enforcement and genetic uses for medical or research purposes would be excluded. These rules would take effect 90 days after enactment.

Takedowns, damages, and platform liability

If enacted, a U.S. citizen owner could sue in federal court for injunctive relief and takedown orders for unauthorized likeness uses. Owners could recover actual damages or statutory damages of $750 to $30,000 per violation, and up to $150,000 per violation for willful violations; harm would be presumed so economic loss need not be proven. Platforms could be liable if they fail to remove unauthorized content after a valid takedown notice, but a platform acting in good faith consistent with the DMCA could claim safe harbor. The chapter would provide only civil remedies and no criminal penalties. These rules would start 90 days after enactment.

Fair use and government activity exemptions

If enacted, the bill would not cover non‑commercial uses that qualify as fair use, such as parody, satire, criticism, news reporting, scholarship, or transformative art. Government activities, including law enforcement or national security, would be exempt. The chapter would also not apply to uses authorized before the law starts. These exemptions would take effect 90 days after enactment.

Federal standard replaces state likeness laws

If enacted, the bill would preempt state laws that give equivalent rights or remedies for unique likeness, creating a single national standard. It also includes a severability clause so the rest stays in effect if one part is struck down. The preemption would take effect 90 days after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]

AZ • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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