Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Intellectual Property topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House passes ‘Truth in Music’ bill to curb deceptive tribute acts
Summary
The House approved HB457, allowing courts to enjoin the deceptive use of recording-group names in paid performances and clarifying that tribute/cover bands are exempt; an amendment removed a statutory $2,000 minimum recovery and limited recovery to actual damages and injunctive relief.
Rep. Gregory Hughes introduced House Bill 457, known as the Truth in Music Act, saying the measure aims to stop commercial performers from advertising themselves as original members of long-established recording groups when they are not. Hughes told the House the bill targets paid, commercial performances where audiences are misled and performers profit from a false association.
Rep. Jill McKiff offered Amendment No. 2 to delete a $2,000 statutory minimum damage award and require proof of actual injury for monetary recovery while preserving injunctive relief, attorney fees, and costs. McKiff said the change avoids creating a per‑incident minimum that could produce a large number of claims and invite opportunistic litigation. Hughes described the change as “friendly” and agreed the amendment better confines remedies to injuries that can be shown.
During floor discussion, sponsors clarified the statute exempts tribute and cover bands that are clearly identified in advertising, and that the law is intended for commercial concerts and paid shows rather than casual or unpaid performances. Representative Watkins and Representative Allen spoke in support, citing harms to original performers and to consumers who pay to see what they believe are original acts.
Voting was opened and closed under the House rules; the Clerk recorded HB457 as passed by the House 73 yes, 0 no with 2 absent. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.
The immediate effect of the amendment narrows available monetary recoveries to instances where a plaintiff shows actual damages, while keeping injunctive relief available to stop misleading advertising. The bill’s sponsor and supporters said they expect the statute to give courts a tool to protect both consumers and authentic performers without encouraging meritless suits.
The House then briefly moved into the Committee of the Whole to hear a short statement and performance from a guest identified in the transcript as K. A. Bowser, who expressed support for the legislation.
