Skip to content

Session Expired

Your session has expired. Please sign in again to continue where you left off.

Sign In Again

MT HB513: Revise laws related to use of name, voice, and likeness of individuals and penalties for unauthorized use

Effective Jan 1, 2026 Montana · 2025 session

Last verified Oct 12, 2026 · official bill text

HB513 · where it stands

All steps complete
  1. Introduced Complete
  2. Passed first chamber Complete
  3. Passed both chambers Complete
  4. Enacted Complete
  5. Effective Since Jan 1, 2026
What do these statuses mean?
Introduced
Filed in the legislature; may be waiting for a committee hearing.
Passed a chamber
Approved by one or both chambers; awaiting further action.
Enacted
Signed into law, or became law without a signature or over a veto.
Effective date
The date the law says it takes effect. Once it has passed, the page shows "Effective" and the date. A court order can still block a law; if we know of one, the summary says so.
Dead / vetoed
Vetoed, failed, or the session ended without action.

In one paragraph

Montana's HB 513 (Chapter 685 of 2025) gives Montana residents property rights in their name, voice and visual likeness that can be licensed, inherited and enforced for 20 years after death. Without consent, a person is liable for distributing an algorithm, software or tool knowing its primary purpose is to produce unauthorized digital voice or visual depictions of a particular person for commercial use, or for knowingly publishing such a depiction for commercial use. Remedies are actual damages plus profits, with exceptions for news, commentary, satire, parody and similar First Amendment uses. Effective January 1, 2026.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

AI voice-clone and avatar tools marketed to imitate specific people, and ads using such replicas, carry damages exposure in Montana.

Key provisions

  1. Residents and domiciliaries have transferable, licensable and descendible property rights in name, voice and visual likeness, lasting 20 years after death
  2. Liability for distributing an algorithm, software, tool or service with actual knowledge that its primary purpose is producing unauthorized digital voice or visual depictions of a particular individual for commercial use
  3. Liability for knowingly publishing or distributing an unauthorized digital voice or visual depiction for commercial use
  4. Digital visual and voice depictions are newly created, computer-generated, highly realistic renderings nearly indistinguishable from the actual person
  5. Remedies: actual damages plus profits (plaintiff proves gross revenue); a reasonable-belief defense applies to publishers; four-year limitations period
  6. Exceptions for news, public affairs, sports, comment, criticism, scholarship, satire, parody and fleeting uses; effective January 1, 2026

Latest legislative action

May 13, 2025. Signed by Governor; Chapter 685

Topics and industries

Related topics

AI LikenessAI Liability

Affected industries

MediaTechnology

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

Related AI laws in Montana

All Montana bills →
HB514 Criminalize use of real and digitally fabricated sexually explicit images HB82 Generally revise laws related to crimes against children SB413 Criminalize disclosure of certain explicit AI-generated media SB25 Revise election laws regarding disclosure requirements for the use of AI in elec SB397 Generally revise laws related to privacy and facial recognition technology HB178 Limit government use of AI systems

Same topic in other states

Utah SB0256 Identity Protection Modifications Tennessee HB2091 AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 1 and Title Illinois HB4875 PUBLICITY ACT-USE OF AI Georgia HB1603 Georgia Entertainment Artificial Intelligence Accountability and Performer Prote California SB1142 Digital Dignity Act. Mississippi SB2046 Mississippians' Right to Name, Likeness and Voice Act; enact.