Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

LAW WITHOUT
                                                                 GOVERNOR'S               CHAPTER
                                                                 SIGNATURE
                                                                                               121
                                                               JANUARY 11, 2026           RESOLVES
                                  STATE OF MAINE
                                           _____
                          IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
                        TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
                                           _____
                                   H.P. 74 - L.D. 109
    Resolve, Directing the Maine Arts Commission to Study Federal and
National Efforts to Protect Artists from Copyright Infringement by Artificial
     Intelligence Companies and Users and to Monitor Educational Use
     Sec. 1. Maine Arts Commission study. Resolved: That the Maine Arts
Commission shall study federal and national efforts to protect artists from copyright
infringement by businesses and others promoting, creating, disseminating or using artificial
intelligence software applications and federal and national efforts to monitor the
educational use of copyrighted work. The commission shall consult with the Office of the
Attorney General on the subject of the study. In its study, the commission may consider
any relevant work of or obtain information from the Maine State Cultural Affairs Council,
the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts and the
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, as well as any other similar
organizations. The commission may also consider the proposed federal No Fakes Act of
2024, the proposed federal No AI FRAUD Act and Tennessee's Ensuring Likeness, Voice,
and Image Security Act of 2024, as well as other relevant law or case law, including Waits
v. Frito-Lay, Inc., 978 F.2d 1093 (9th Cir. 1992) and Midler v. Ford Motor Co., 849 F.2d
460 (9th Cir. 1988). The commission shall report its findings, including any suggested
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by
December 3, 2025. The joint standing committee may report out a bill to the Second
Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature based on the report.
    Sec. 2. Funding. Resolved: That the Maine Arts Commission may accept grants,
private contributions and any additional outside funding for the study under this resolve.
    Sec. 3.    Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following
appropriations and allocations are made.
ARTS COMMISSION, MAINE
Arts - Administration 0178
Initiative: Provides one-time funds for a consultant to research and analyze the impact of
unauthorized usage by artificial intelligence on an artist's work.
GENERAL FUND                                                      2025-26          2026-27
                                   Page 1 - 132LR0114(06)
 All Other                                        $25,000           $0
                                              __________    __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL                                $25,000           $0
                     Page 2 - 132LR0114(06)