Arkansas legislation · 95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)
Arkansas HB1041: TO PROHIBIT DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT DEEPFAKES IN ELECTION COMMUNICATIONS
Status: Failed, May 5, 2025
What the bill says
An act to be entitled an act to prohibit deceptive and fraudulent deepfakes in election communications; to provide for a cause of action and civil penalties for the use of deceptive and fraudulent deepfakes; and for other purposes. subtitle to prohibit deceptive and fraudulent deepfakes in election communications.
From the introduced text:
An Act To Be Entitled AN ACT TO PROHIBIT DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT DEEPFAKES IN ELECTION COMMUNICATIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR A CAUSE OF ACTION AND CIVIL PENALTIES FOR THE USE OF DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT DEEPFAKES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Subtitle TO PROHIBIT DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT DEEPFAKES IN ELECTION COMMUNICATIONS. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 7, Chapter 6, Subchapter 1, is amended to add an additional section to read as follows: 7-6-106. Deceptive and fraudulent deepfakes -- Definitions -- Penalty -- Exceptions. (a) As used in this section: (1) "Deceptive and fraudulent deepfake" means synthetic media that: (A) Inaccurately alters or artificially generates the speech, conduct, image, or likeness of a candidate or political party with the intent to injure the reputation of the candidate or political party or otherwise deceive a voter; and (B)(i) Appears to a reasonable person to depict an individual saying or doing something that did not actually occur in reality; or (ii) Provides a reasonable person a fundamentally different understanding or impression of the speech, conduct, image, or *LJH017* 03-19-2025 15:05:33 LJH017 As Engrossed: H1/16/25 H2/27/25 H3/19/25 HB1041 likeness of a candidate or a political party than a reasonable person would have from an unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording, or video recording; …
Sponsors
- R. Scott Richardson (R, 13) · primary sponsor
- Joshua Bryant (R, 32)
- Andrew Collins (D, 73)
- Clarke Tucker (D, 14)
Latest actions
- : Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
- : REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
- : Amendment No. 3 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
- : Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
- : REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
- : Amendment No. 2 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
- : Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
- : REPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
- : Amendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
- : Placed on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
Common questions
- What is HB1041?
- HB1041 is a bill in the Arkansas Legislature (95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)): TO PROHIBIT DECEPTIVE AND FRAUDULENT DEEPFAKES IN ELECTION COMMUNICATIONS.
- What does HB1041 do?
- In its own words: An act to be entitled an act to prohibit deceptive and fraudulent deepfakes in election communications; to provide for a cause of action and civil penalties for the use of deceptive and fraudulent deepfakes; and for other purposes. subtitle to prohibit deceptive and fraudulent deepfakes in election communications.
- What is the status of HB1041?
- Failed as of May 5, 2025. Latest action: Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. (May 5, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB1041?
- R. Scott Richardson (R, 13), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1041?
- On the Arkansas Legislature website: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R&measureno=HB1041
Source: official Arkansas record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.