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MontanaHB 51369th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise laws related to use of name, voice, and likeness of individuals and penalties for unauthorized use

Sponsored By: Jill Cohenour (Democrat)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Strong damages for unauthorized digital replicas

Beginning January 1, 2026, you can recover at least $50,000 per violation for the main bans, or your actual losses if higher, plus the violator’s profits. For other covered violations, you can recover at least $5,000 per violation, or your actual losses if higher, plus profits. Courts may also award punitive damages and reasonable attorney fees. To claim profits, you show revenue tied to the use; the violator must prove deductible expenses. You must sue within four years after you knew, or should have known, about the violation. A publisher with an objectively reasonable belief that a replica was allowed is not liable for your actual damages.

Ban on unauthorized AI voice and image

Beginning January 1, 2026, it is illegal to publish or share for money a digital voice or image of a real person when you know it is not authorized. Selling or sharing tools you know are mainly used to make unauthorized replicas of a specific person for commercial use is also illegal. People or companies who knowingly help release unauthorized replicas can be held responsible, and a disclaimer is not a defense. Protected speech like news, commentary, scholarship, satire, parody, brief or negligible uses, and ads for those works are exempt. The law also exempts broadband internet access providers and protects acting as oneself in films or shows unless the work falsely claims real participation.

Montanans own their name and image

Beginning January 1, 2026, Montana residents have a property right in their name, voice, and image. You control commercial use and can sell, license, or pass these rights to your heirs. Your rights stay exclusive while you are alive. After death, they last 20 years and end then if no transfer or license happens. You or anyone you assigned, bequeathed, transferred, or exclusively licensed these rights to can sue to enforce them.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jill Cohenour

    Democrat • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 875 • No: 10

House vote • 4/30/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 4/30/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 100 • No: 0

House vote • 4/29/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 4/29/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 47 • No: 0

House vote • 4/17/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 99 • No: 0

House vote • 4/16/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 92 • No: 6

House vote • 4/12/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 4/10/2025

AMD-HB0513.002.001 Zolnikov D/PASS

Yes: 48 • No: 0

House vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur As Amended

Yes: 48 • No: 0

House vote • 3/17/2025

Rerefer to Energy-Zolnikov

Yes: 46 • No: 3

House vote • 2/28/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 97 • No: 1

House vote • 2/27/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 99 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/19/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/7/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/6/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    5/2/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    5/2/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/30/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted

    4/30/2025Senate

  9. Transmitted to Senate for Consideration of Governor's Proposed Amendments

    4/30/2025House

  10. 3rd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted

    4/30/2025House

  11. 2nd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted

    4/29/2025Senate

  12. 2nd Reading Governor's Proposed Amendments Adopted

    4/29/2025House

  13. Returned with Governor's Proposed Amendments

    4/28/2025House

  14. Transmitted to Governor

    4/25/2025House

  15. Signed by President

    4/25/2025Senate

  16. Signed by Speaker

    4/25/2025House

  17. Returned from Enrolling

    4/22/2025House

  18. Sent to Enrolling

    4/18/2025House

  19. 3rd Reading Passed as Amended by Senate

    4/17/2025House

  20. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments Concurred

    4/16/2025House

  21. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/12/2025Senate

  22. 3rd Reading Concurred

    4/12/2025Senate

  23. 2nd Reading Concurred as Amended

    4/10/2025Senate

  24. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend Carried

    4/10/2025Senate

  25. Committee Report--Bill Concurred as Amended

    4/9/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • As Amended (Version 5)

    5/1/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    4/10/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    4/9/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/14/2025

    PDF

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