Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546062
18 SAG-AFTR A | Summer 2026 | sagaftra.org For Members LEGISLATIVE UPDATES ADOBE STOCK SAG-AFTRA SHINES THE SPOTLIGHT ON CRUCIAL BILLS T he Government Affairs and Public Policy team at SAG-AFTRA has spent another quarter championing essential legislation on both the state and federal level. State-Level Bills Should news organizations be required to provide clear disclaimers when publishing AI-generated content? Both houses of the New York State Legislature have answered with a resounding "yes," and now the NY FAIR News Act, S.8451-B / A.8962-B, heads to Gov. Kathy Hochul's desk for her signature. In California, the SAG-AFTRA sponsored bill, SB 1050, which would make it unlawful to create and publish an advertisement that prominently features a synthetic representation of a human without a clear and conspicuous disclosure to consumers that the imagery is synthetic, has seen success in the Senate and is gaining momentum in the Assembly. Other California bills making their way through the legislative process include AB 2319, which would create a post-production tax credit to help keep film and television work in California. AB 2403, meanwhile, would create new California tax credits to encourage commercial production in the state. Eligible companies could receive a 20% or 30% tax credit on qualified production costs over $500,000. Additional provisions in AB 2403 protect human labor from AI displacement and support union/industry labor standards. Performers in Michigan may soon enjoy the benefits of HB 6150, which would establish new regulations for the use of an individual's name, likeness, voice or image for commercial purposes. If passed, the Broadcast Freemarket Agreement Act in Pennsylvania would prohibit the enforcement of non-compete agreements in the broadcast media industry when they restrict a broadcast employee's ability to move to a new employer or work within a geographic area. SAG-AFTRA also supported SB 612/HB 400 which passed in Virginia, extending the expiration date for the motion picture production tax credit for an additional four years. Op-Eds Amplify Federal Bills SAG-AFTRA leaders and allies took to their keyboards to publish op-eds in support of key federal efforts. On June 16, SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin and Actors' Equity Association President Brooke Shields co-authored an editorial published in Roll Call lauding the Performing Artists Tax Parity Act, which would allow middle-income performers to deduct business expenses when filing their taxes. On June 24, Astin joined SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland in publishing an op-ed in The Hill covering the importance of the NO FAKES Act and its ability to protect individuals from unauthorized exploitation of their image and likeness. For more information on the NO FAKES Act, see page 50. Want to stay updated on all the latest efforts from SAG-AFTRA's Government Affairs and Public Policy Department? Visit sagaftra.org/gapp.