SB 2076 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PUBLICITY RIGHTS.

SB 2076 updates state law to protect individuals' publicity rights by adding "digital replica" to the legal definition of "likeness." This means people can prevent unauthorized digital copies of their appearance or voice from being created or distributed without permission. The bill amends existing publicity rights law to specifically address new technology that generates realistic digital representations. It will take effect on January 1, 2077.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2076 → SB2076_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from an initial draft to a Senate committee version (SD1), resulting in significant changes to the bill's title, effective date, and core legal definitions. The primary policy shift involves replacing the term 'Artificial Intelligence Deepfake' with 'Digital Replica' to broaden the scope of protected likeness rights to include any realistic electronic representation, not just those created by AI. Additionally, the effective date was moved from the immediate approval of the bill to a fixed future date of January 1, 2077.

Scope change

The scope of protection was expanded by redefining the protected concept from 'AI deepfakes' to 'digital replicas,' which includes any computer-generated realistic representation of a person's voice or likeness, regardless of the specific technology used to create it.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the law was changed from 'upon approval' to a fixed date of January 1, 2077.

DEFINITION

The definition of protected media was changed from 'Artificial intelligence deepfake' to 'Digital Replica,' expanding protection to include any realistic electronic representation of an individual.

New definitions were added for 'Digital Replica' and 'Voice' to clarify the specific types of media covered under the publicity rights law.

SCOPE

The bill's title and description were updated to reflect the new terminology of 'Digital Replica' instead of 'Artificial Intelligence; Deepfakes'.

TECHNICAL

Metadata regarding the bill's author, version number, and template type was updated to reflect the Senate committee version.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN/JDC.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2113) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/JDC.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Ihara, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to LBT, CPN/JDC.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

10 primary · 1 co-sponsor