Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB392: Generally revise laws related to creation of profitable family video content featuring minor children
Status: Signed into law, May 16, 2025
What the bill says
An act establishing the child digital protection act; generally revising laws related to the creation of profitable family video content featuring minor children; providing for trust contributions of profits made from video content featuring minor children; providing a right to request removal of content; providing a private right of action; and providing definitions.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CHILD DIGITAL PROTECTION ACT; GENERALLY REVISING LAWS RELATED TO THE CREATION OF PROFITABLE FAMILY VIDEO CONTENT FEATURING MINOR CHILDREN; PROVIDING FOR TRUST CONTRIBUTIONS OF PROFITS MADE FROM VIDEO CONTENT FEATURING MINOR CHILDREN; PROVIDING A RIGHT TO REQUEST REMOVAL OF CONTENT; PROVIDING A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION; AND PROVIDING DEFINITIONS. Section 1. Short title. [Sections 1 through 7] may be cited as the "Child Digital Protection Act". Section 2. Legislative findings and purpose. (1) The legislature finds that social media influencers can make significant amounts of money from digital content. Some influencers use the influencers' minor children as subjects of the content. The children featured in family-produced video content generate interest in and revenue for the content but receive no financial compensation for participation. Unlike in child acting, the children are not playing a part and lack legal protections in the state. (2) The legislature further finds that social media influencers who market video content of the influencers' families, or "content creators", can profit from the personal property rights of the influencers' children without restriction. Some children are filmed from birth, with highly personal details of the children's lives shared on the internet for compensation. In addition to severe loss of privacy, the children receive no consideration for the use and exchange of the children's personal property …
Sponsors
- Zolnikov, Katie (R, 44) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : (H) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading Senate Amendments
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading Senate Amendments
Votes
- Do Concur (April 22, 2025): 98 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 18, 2025): 98 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 2, 2025): 46 yea, 4 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 1, 2025): 46 yea, 4 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 21, 2025): 98 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 20, 2025): 99 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Liability, Minors, Discrimination, Family Law, Communications
Common questions
- What is HB392?
- HB392 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Generally revise laws related to creation of profitable family video content featuring minor children.
- What does HB392 do?
- In its own words: An act establishing the child digital protection act; generally revising laws related to the creation of profitable family video content featuring minor children; providing for trust contributions of profits made from video content featuring minor children; providing a right to request removal of content; providing a private right of action; and providing definitions.
- What is the status of HB392?
- Signed into law as of May 16, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 16, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB392?
- Zolnikov, Katie (R, 44).
- Where is the official record for HB392?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0299
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.