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91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

HF 2609: Relating to the use of synthetic media in campaign materials, and making penalties applicable

Died when the session ended · The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died.

What it does

This bill relates to the use of synthetic media in campaign materials. The bill requires published material (newspaper, magazine, shopper, outdoor advertising facility, poster, direct mailing, brochure, internet site, campaign sign, or other form of printed or electronic general public political advertising, including television, video, or motion picture advertising) that contains synthetic media, defined in the bill, to include a disclosure. The inclusion of the disclosure required by the bill does not preclude a person from pursuing any other remedies under law for the publication of synthetic media.

Sponsors

State Government committee

Cost

Cost: up to $6,200

House File 2609 creates a new offense within Iowa Code chapter 68A, and the number of convictions is unknown. The average State cost per serious misdemeanor is between $350 and $6,200. This includes operating costs incurred by the Judicial Branch, the Indigent…

Senate subcommittee · named March 17, 2026

  • Sen. Ken Rozenboom (R) · ken.rozenboom@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Jason Schultz (R) · jason.schultz@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Cindy Winckler (D) · cindy.winckler@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 6 for, 1 against

For: Bitches Get Stuff Done; Iowa Cable and Telecommunications Association; Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club; Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board; League of Women Voters of Iowa; VALOR Iowa

Against: Iowa Newspaper Association

In plain words

  1. January 29, 2026Filed in the House and sent to the State Government committee · as HSB 643
  2. January 29, 2026House subcommittee named: Lundgren, Bossman and Cooling · as HSB 643
  3. February 4, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it with changes · as HSB 643
  4. February 17, 2026Approved by the House committee · as HSB 643
  5. February 17, 2026Committee vote: 20–1 · as HSB 643
  6. February 19, 2026Filed in the House
  7. February 19, 2026Approved by the House committee, and given a new number: HF 2609 · as HSB 643
  8. March 11, 2026Cost estimate (fiscal note) posted
  9. March 12, 2026Passed the House, 89–2
  10. March 16, 2026Arrived in the Senate
  11. March 17, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Rozenboom, Schultz and Winckler

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/91/HF2609