In one paragraph
Hawaii's SB 1156 would have made it a misdemeanor to knowingly, and without the depicted person's consent, create or distribute a deepfake showing an individual nude or engaging in sexual conduct. The Senate committee on LBT deferred it February 7, 2025, it was carried over to the 2026 session with no further action, and it did not pass.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
None: the bill did not pass. It would have applied to anyone creating or sharing sexually explicit deepfakes of a real person without consent.
Key provisions
- Would add an offense of unlawful creation or distribution of a sexually explicit deepfake to HRS chapter 707, a misdemeanor
- Offense: knowingly and without the depicted individual's consent creating, distributing, exhibiting or exchanging a deepfake that depicts an individual nude or personally engaging in sexual conduct
- Deepfake means electronic audio or visual media created or altered so it would falsely appear to a reasonable observer to be an authentic record of the person's speech or conduct
- Excludes work of political, public interest or newsworthy value (including commentary, criticism, satire or parody) and media whose content, context or a clear disclosure visible throughout would make a reasonable person understand it is not a real event
- No liability for activity protected by the First Amendment
- Would have taken effect upon approval
Latest legislative action
Dec 8, 2025. Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Sponsors
| Name | Role | District |
|---|---|---|
| Joy San Buenaventura D | Sponsor | SD-002 |
| Mike Gabbard D | Sponsor | SD-021 |
Topics and industries
Related topics
Affected industries
This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error