SB 2796 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act; enact.

SB 2796 creates a property right for every individual (living or deceased) in their name, photograph, voice, or likeness, prohibiting commercial use without consent. It directly affects anyone whose image or voice might be used for advertising, fundraising, or products without permission, including deceased individuals (with rights lasting 10 years post-death). Key provisions require prior consent for commercial exploitation, allow civil lawsuits for violations, and classify unauthorized use as a Class A misdemeanor. The law also specifies that using images of "definable groups" (like crowds at events) does not require individual consent, and courts can issue injunctions or seize violative materials.
Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Last action Feb 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced Current version · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended from its original introduction to a committee substitute version, primarily reformatting the text to match official legislative markup standards and adding new substantive provisions. The most significant change is the addition of Section 5(c), which creates liability for distributing technology that produces identifiable likenesses without authorization, and Section 6(b), which provides enhanced damages for violations involving members of the armed forces. The effective date was also changed to repeal the act on June 30, 2025, making it a temporary measure.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include liability for technology producers and enhanced protections for military personnel, while the effective date was set to expire within one year of enactment.
ENFORCEMENT

Added new liability provision for distributing algorithms, software, or technology that produces identifiable likenesses without authorization

Added enhanced damages provision allowing recovery of three times actual damages plus attorney fees for violations involving members of the armed forces

TIMELINE

Changed effective date to July 1, 2025 with repeal on June 30, 2025, making the act temporary rather than permanent

TECHNICAL

Reformatted text to match official legislative markup standards with proper section numbering and spacing

DEFINITION

Added clarification that 'Person' includes not-for-profit corporations, educational institutions, religious institutions, political parties, and community organizations

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Jan 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Committee
Referred To Judiciary, Division B
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Bart Williams
Bart Williams
RRepublican
MS
15