HB 3299 | Ownership of Your Image: Lawmakers Advance Protections for the OK Film Industry
TL;DR
Oklahoma is taking a massive leap toward protecting our "digital twins" with House Bill 3299. This legislation would criminalize the unauthorized use of an individual’s name, image, voice, or likeness (NIVL)—essentially giving us the same legal shield as the famous ELVIS Act in Tennessee.
For those of us grinding in the local scene, our voice and our face are our resume. But as generative AI gets scarily good at mimicking human performance, with tools like Sora AI, many of us have been looking over our shoulders. Whether you're a voice actor in a home booth or a lead on a feature in the Wichita Mountains, your likeness is your property—and Oklahoma lawmakers finally agree.
On Tuesday, Feb. 17, the House Criminal Judiciary Committee took a stand for the Oklahoma film industry by unanimously advancing HB 3299. Authored by Representative Neil Hays (R-Checotah), the bill is a direct response to the "Wild West" era of deepfakes and AI voice cloning.
The Meat of the Bill
This isn't just corporate-speak; it’s a set-ready safety net. Here is what the bill actually does for us:
The Consent Rule: It becomes illegal to create or distribute synthetic media using your likeness without your written consent, specifically if there is intent to cause emotional or financial harm.
Misdemeanor to Felony: Using a "digital twin" without permission starts as a misdemeanor. However, if the theft causes more than $25,000 in financial damage—roughly the rate of a solid indie supporting role or a major commercial VO contract—it jumps to a felony with up to five years in prison.
Political Transparency: The bill also targets those deceptive political ads. Any AI-altered media used in a campaign within 45 days of an election must have a clear disclosure.
Why This Matters for Oklahoma Creators
We’ve all heard the stories about actors being asked to sign away their "digital rights" for a day rate. This bill gives us the leverage to say no. Representative Hays put it bluntly: "Every Oklahoman deserves to control their name, likeness, and voice."
In an industry where we are often "in the trenches" trying to prove Oklahoma is a premier production hub, this kind of protection is a major win. It signals to out-of-state productions that while we welcome the work, we value our talent’s autonomy. It also provides a clear path for local shops like NGP and Apex to ensure their talent rosters are protected from bad actors using bots to undercut real humans.
What’s Next?
HB 3299 now heads to the full House floor. We are also keeping an eye on Senate Bill 746, a companion effort focused on AI disclosures in political media.
This move follows in the footsteps of Tennessee’s ELVIS Act (the Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act), which made waves last year as the first of its kind. If this passes, Oklahoma won't just be a place with great tax incentives; we’ll be a state that actually respects the people behind the performance.
It’s about time the law caught up to the tech. We’ll be watching this one closely from the Capitol to the crafty table.
See you on set.