House passes bill updating publicity-rights law to cover AI-generated likenesses

The Arkansas House of Representatives passed House Bill 1071 on a recorded vote of 95 yeas, 1 nay and 1 present, updating the state’s publicity-rights statute to explicitly cover materials created with artificial intelligence.

Representative Richardson, who explained the bill on the floor, described it as “essentially just a cleanup bill with a minor update for emerging trends and technologies.” He said the 2016 Frank Broyles Publicity Rights Protection Act established a property right to the commercial use of an individual’s identity and that HB1071 clarifies that “AI generated materials is included in that particular law.” Richardson gave an illustrative example of an AI-generated endorsement, saying it was possible to create videos of public figures that “might be considered a bit of a loophole” under the earlier statute.

Representative Richardson told members the bill amends several places in existing law so that computer-manipulated images or sounds used for commercial endorsement are covered. There was no floor debate after his explanation. The House clerk reported a recorded vote: 95 ayes, 1 nay and 1 present, and the bill passed.

The bill’s text as presented to the House indicates it inserts explicit references to AI-generated photographs, voice or likeness when defining prohibited commercial use; Representative Richardson said the changes appear in “3 or 4 different places” in current law. The House did not record additional floor amendments or implementation directives during consideration.

Because the vote was recorded on the House floor, the tally stands as the official House action in the journal.