Let’s be clear: deepfakes — whether they are impersonations of politicians, celebrities or the teen nextdoor — are NOT “free speech.” They’re deceptive and too often harmful. There’s a reason for truth-in-advertising laws (which are too lax, but that’s for another day).
It is a travesty that the United States has no federal legislation on an issue of such importance to democracy. And one that is not new. Former President Barack Obama raised the issue in a video produced by Jordan Peele … in April 2018.
Deepfake legislation by state
States still in session that have passed legislation but also have bills pending
- California (adjourns 30 November)
AB 730, enacted 03 October 2019
AB 2355, referred to Elections,
21 March 2024
AB 2655, read and amended a second time by Elections,
21 March 2024
AB 2839, referred to Elections and Judiciary,
21 March 2024 - Minnesota (adjourns 20 May)
HF 1370, enacted 26 May 2023
SF 3550, re-referred to Judiciary and Public Safety,
19 February 2024
SF 4029, pending Judiciary and Public Safety,
21 March 2024
HF 4772, second reading, 25 March 2024
States that passed legislation this year
- Idaho
HB 664, enacted 25 March 2024
- Indiana
HB 1133, enacted 12 March 2024 - New Mexico
HB 182, enacted 05 March 2024 - Oregon
SB 1571, enacted 27 March 2024 - Wisconsin
AB 665, enacted on 21 March 2024
States still in session that have legislation pending
- Alabama (adjourns 20 May)
HB 172, unanimously passed House, 21 March - Alaska (adjourns 16 May)
SB 177, hearing, 04 April - Arizona (adjourns 20 April)
SB 1515, not yet referred to committee; dead. - Colorado (adjourns 10 May)
HB1147, passed House, 11 March (42-18-5); pending Senate Veterans, & Military Affairs, 18 March - Connecticut (adjourns 08 May)
SB 2, referred for fiscal review, 25 March
HB 5450, filed with Legislative Commissioners’ Office,
25 March - Delaware (adjourns 30 June)
HB 316, substitution in House, 21 March - Hawaii (adjourns 3 May)
SB 2687, passed Senate, 05 March (24-1); passed out of House committee, 28 March (8-0)
HB 1734, referred to committee, 24 January
HB 1766, unanimously passed House, 05 March; referred to Senate Judiciary Committee 07 March - lllinois (adjourns 05 January 2025)
SB 1742, referred to assignments, 10 March
HB 4644, assigned to Ethics & Elections Committee,
14 February
HB 4933, assigned to Ethics & Elections Committee,
28 February - Iowa (adjourns 16 April)
SF 2313, pending Senate Workforce Committee,
13 February; effectively dead.
HF 2549, passed House 06 March (93-1-6); referred to State Government, fiscal note, 13 March - Kansas (adjourns 21 May)
HB 2559, stricken from calendar, 23 February; dead.
HB 2576, House Elections Committee hearing, 01 February - Kentucky (adjourns 15 April)
SB 131, referred to Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs, 07 March
HB 45, unanimously passed House 28 February; referred to Senate Transportation Committee, 07 March - Louisiana (adjourns 03 June)
SB 6, amendments adopted, 19 March
SB 9, referred to Committee on Judiciary, 11 March
SB 97, referred to Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs, 11 March
HB 154, reported out of Committee on House and Governmental Affairs, 27 March (14-1) - Maryland (adjourns 08 April)
SB 978, passed Senate, 18 March; House hearing,
26 March
HB 872, pending House Ways & Means, hearing
27 February; dead. - Massachusetts (adjourns 02 January 2025)
SD 2932, referred to committee on Election Laws
22 January - Mississippi (adjourns 05 May)
SB 2577, passed Senate as amended (38-14),
13 March - Missouri (adjourns 30 May)
HB 2628, passed House, 27 March (149-3); Senate first reading, 27 March - Nebraska (adjourns 18 April)
LB 1203, pending Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, hearing, 15 February - New Hampshire (adjourns 30 June)
HB 1432, Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, 02 April
HB 1500, refer for interim study, 14 March
HB 1596, failed House vote, 28 March
HB 1710, inexpedient to legislate, 01 February; dead. - New Jersey (adjourns 13 January 2026)
A 2818, referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee,
04 March
A 2819, referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee,
09 January
A 3838, referred to Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, 22 February - New York (adjourns 02 January 2025)
S 7592, introduced 07 July 2023; pending Senate Elections
S 8400A, pending Senate Elections
A 7106A, pending Assembly Election Law
A 9028, pending Assembly Election Law - Ohio (adjourns 31 December)
HB 367, pending Government Oversight
HB 410, introduced 12 February - Oklahoma (adjourns 31 May)
SB 1655, unanimously passed Senate, 05 March; pending House Elections and Ethics
HB 3825, introduced, 05 February - Pennsylvania (adjourns 30 November)
HB 2079, pending House State Government - Rhode Island (adjourns 30 June)
H 7387, Committee recommended measure be held for further study, 26 March; dead. - South Carolina (adjourns 09 May)
H 4660, pending Committee on Judiciary
States that had legislation passed but adjourned without governor’s signature
- Florida (adjourned 08 March)
HB 919, passed House (104-8), 28 February
Unanimously passed Senate, 01 March
Not delivered to Governor