SOUL Act of 2026
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (16 Apr 2026): Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
What this bill does
H.R. 8323, known as the SOUL Act of 2026, would establish new "sovereign ownership rights" for U.S. citizens over their unique likeness. This includes their name, image, likeness, voice, biometric identifiers, and genetic markers. The bill aims to protect these elements from unauthorized digital replications and abuses, such as deepfakes or AI-generated content that mimics a person's identity. These rights would belong to the individual U.S. citizen and would last for their lifetime plus 50 years after death.
The bill affects U.S. citizens by granting them these new ownership rights, and it would impact entities that create or use digital replicas of individuals. Platforms hosting user-generated content could be held liable if they fail to remove unauthorized replicas after receiving notice. However, exceptions are outlined for non-commercial uses like parody or criticism, government activities, and constitutionally protected speech. The bill also specifies remedies for violations, including injunctions, takedown orders, and statutory damages.
This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 16, 2026, by Representative Andy Biggs. It has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. If passed by the House, it would then move to the Senate for consideration. If both chambers pass identical versions, it would be sent to the President for signature into law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Timeline
16 Apr 2026
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 8323 do?
- H.R. 8323, known as the SOUL Act of 2026, would establish new "sovereign ownership rights" for U.S. citizens over their unique likeness. This includes their name, image, likeness, voice, biometric identifiers, and genetic markers. The bill aims to protect these elements from unauthorized digital replications and abuses, such as deepfakes or AI-generated content that mimics a person's identity. These rights would belong to the individual U.S. citizen and would last for their lifetime plus 50 years after death. The bill affects U.S. citizens by granting them these new ownership rights, and it would impact entities that create or use digital replicas of individuals. Platforms hosting user-generated content could be held liable if they fail to remove unauthorized replicas after receiving notice. However, exceptions are outlined for non-commercial uses like parody or criticism, government activities, and constitutionally protected speech. The bill also specifies remedies for violations, including injunctions, takedown orders, and statutory damages. This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 16, 2026, by Representative Andy Biggs. It has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. If passed by the House, it would then move to the Senate for consideration. If both chambers pass identical versions, it would be sent to the President for signature into law.
- Has H.R. 8323 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 8323. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 8323?
- H.R. 8323 was sponsored by Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5] (R-AZ), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 8323?
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. (16 Apr 2026).
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