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House committee backs bills banning malicious deepfakes targeting students and adding deepfake conduct to campus misconduct rules
Summary
The committee reported SB346 (prohibits malicious deepfakes against K–12 students) and SB347 (adds unlawful deepfakes to campus power‑based violence definitions for postsecondary institutions) after sponsors said the measures are narrowly targeted and educational institutions will be required to distribute guidance. Technical amendments clarified definitions and retained coverage of conduct.
Representative Landry carried two related measures addressing deepfake content targeting students. SB346 would prohibit a student, teacher or school employee from using deepfake material against a K–12 student with intent to harass, coerce, intimidate, or maliciously spread that content, while preserving exceptions for satire, parody and clearly labeled material. The bill directs BESE and the Department of Education to develop implementing rules.
SB347 would add AI‑generated imagery and deepfakes created without consent to the Campus Accountability and Safety Act’s definition of power‑based violence for postsecondary institutions, requiring colleges to treat certain deepfake incidents with the same accountability framework as other forms of misconduct and to provide education on power‑based violence, including deepfakes, no fewer than four times per academic year. Committee members and witnesses said the measures stem from panels and earlier bills and that technical amendments were needed to avoid unintended changes to statutory terms; the committee adopted technical amendments to preserve the existing scope while adding the new conduct language.
Supporters described the bills as tools for campuses to address a new and potentially harmful form of harassment and called for consolidated efforts across jurisdictions to avoid duplication. Representative Fryberg said the measure is "another tool in the toolbox" to help schools respond to modern forms of harassment. The committee reported both measures favorably (SB346) or with amendments (SB347).
