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SB 346

SCHOOLS: Prohibits the use of deepfake material against students enrolled in K-12. (8/1/26)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Regina Barrow and 5 co-sponsors

Prohibits using deepfake material against K-12 students to coerce, harass, intimidate, or maliciously disseminate or sell, with BESE/DOE rulemaking.

Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 496.
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Bill Summary · SB 346

Summary of SB 346 (2026, Louisiana)

Purpose and Intent

SB 346 aims to protect K-12 students in Louisiana by prohibiting the use of deepfake material against students enrolled in elementary or secondary schools. The prohibition targets actions intended to coerce, harass, intimidate, or to maliciously disseminate or sell such material.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibition Scope
    • Applies to students enrolled in K-12 schools.
    • Prohibits use of deepfake material against a student by:
    • a student
    • a faculty member
    • a member of the administrative staff
    • any other employee at an elementary or secondary school
    • The prohibited conduct includes use with the intent to:
    • coercive purposes
    • harassment
    • intimidation
    • malicious dissemination or sale of the material
  • Definition
    • The bill provides a definition for “deepfake” to identify the type of material subject to the prohibition.
  • Regulatory Authority and Implementation
    • The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), in collaboration with the Department of Education, is authorized to develop and adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill.
  • Effective Date
    • The act would take effect on August 1, 2026.
  • Statutory Addition
    • Adds a new statute: R.S. 17:416.14.1.

Beneficiaries and Affected Parties

  • Primary Beneficiaries
    • K-12 students in Louisiana schools, who would be protected from deepfake-related coercion, harassment, intimidation, or harmful dissemination.
  • Potentially Affected School Community
    • Students, teachers, administrators, and other school employees who interact with or generate or share digital media involving students.
  • Regulatory Bodies
    • BESE and the Louisiana Department of Education, tasked with creating implementing regulations.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Legislative Timeline
    • Introduced in March 2026 and referred to the Senate Committee on Education.
    • As amended by Senate Committee on Education, it outlines the prohibition, definitions, and regulatory framework.
  • Effective Date
    • The law would become effective on August 1, 2026.
  • Rulemaking
    • BESE, in collaboration with the Department of Education, is directed to develop and adopt rules to implement the statute, which suggests a regulatory process to define deepfake, establish reporting mechanisms, enforcement, and potential penalties (not specified in the provided text).

Notes

  • The summary reflects the text and amendments provided in SB 346 and its digest. Specific penalties, enforcement mechanisms, and procedures for reporting or adjudication are not detailed in the excerpts available. The bill emphasizes preventive regulation and clear prohibitions within the K-12 setting.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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