Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the use of synthetic media in campaign materials, and making penalties applicable
Sponsored by the House State Government Committee
Proposed by the Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board · their explanation · all agency proposals
Topics:Elections & votingTechnology & privacyArtificial intelligence
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 29, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 29, 2026
- Done: House committeeFebruary 17, 2026
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 12, 202689–2
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
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’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary People running political campaigns would have to label any advertisements that use computer-generated or fake media. This rule applies to things like TV commercials, social media posts, and campaign signs. If someone intentionally breaks this law, they could face fines or jail time.1
Read the official explanation
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. The bill requires the Iowa ethics and campaign disclosure board to adopt rules to implement the bill. By operation of law, a person who willfully violates a provision of the bill is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.
Why it matters. People who use synthetic media in political advertisements, such as television, video, or printed materials, must include a disclosure statement in those ads. The Iowa ethics and campaign disclosure board will create rules to implement these requirements, and individuals who willfully violate the law could face a serious misdemeanor. The state's Judicial Branch, Indigent Defense Fund, and Department of Corrections may face costs per serious misdemeanor estimated to be between $350 and $6,200.2
Changed since by amendment H-8058; see Amendments.
Senate subcommittee
Named March 17, 2026. It hasn’t reported yet.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 4, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Fiscal note
Cost: up to $6,200 Compare with other bills
AI summary This bill requires campaign materials containing synthetic media to include a specific disclosure statement. Because the number of new convictions for this offense cannot be estimated, the total fiscal impact on the state cannot be determined. However, the average state cost per serious misdemeanor is estimated to be between $350 and $6,200, affecting the Judicial Branch, the Indigent Defense Fund, and the Department of Corrections.4
Read the fiscal note
Description
House File 2609 relates to synthetic media disclosures in campaign materials. The Bill provides definitions and requires that published material containing synthetic media have the words “this content generated using synthetic media” prominently displayed. Any person who is responsible for the published material has the sole responsibility and liability for including the disclosure statement. The inclusion of the disclosure statement does not preclude a person from pursuing any other remedies under law for the publication of synthetic media. The Bill requires the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board (IECDB) to adopt administrative rules pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 17A to implement the Bill.
Background
Pursuant to Iowa Code section 68A.701, any person who willfully violates the provisions of Iowa Code chapter 68A is guilty of a serious misdemeanor upon conviction. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement of no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.
Assumptions
- The following will not change over the projection period: charge, conviction, and sentencing patterns and trends; prisoner length of stay (LOS); revocation rates; plea bargaining; and other criminal justice system policies and practices.
- County jail data is unavailable. For purposes of this analysis, the marginal cost for county jails is assumed to be $50 per day.
- Conviction data reflects the total number of convictions in adult court, which may include multiple convictions per individual. Not all convictions lead to incarceration, and there may be a delay between conviction and prison admission, which can contribute to differences in totals.
- A six-month delay is assumed from the effective date of the Bill to the date the first offender will enter the correctional system.
- Offender-based convictions are a count of individuals convicted of the same offense. Each offender is counted only once per Iowa Code section, regardless of the number of individual convictions.
- Admissions are a count of individuals newly admitted to the Department of Corrections (DOC) for supervision during a selected time period, based on the most serious offense committed.
Correctional Impact
House File 2609 creates a new offense within Iowa Code chapter 68A. The correctional impact of the Bill cannot be determined because the number of new convictions cannot be estimated. Figure 1 shows estimates for sentencing to State prison, parole, probation, or Community-Based Corrections (CBC) residential facilities; LOS in months under those supervisions; and supervision marginal costs per day for a serious misdemeanor.
Figure 1 — Sentencing Estimates and LOS in Months
Conviction Offense Class
Percent
Ordered to
State
Prison
FY 2025 Avg
LOS in
Prison (All Releases)
Marginal
Cost Per
Day
Prison
Percent
Ordered to
Probation
FY 2025
Field Avg
LOS on
Probation
Avg Cost
Per Day
Probation
Marginal
Cost Per
Day CBC
Marginal
Cost Per
Day Jail
FY 2025
Field Avg
LOS on
Parole
Marginal
Cost Per
Day Parole
Serious Misdemeanor 2.3% 7.3 $23.07 44.8% 21.0 $8.00 $16.35 $50.00 N/A $8.00 Refer to the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) memo addressed to the General Assembly, Cost Estimates Used for Correctional Impact Statements, dated January 12, 2026, for information related to the correctional system.
Minority Impact
House File 2609 creates a new offense within Iowa Code chapter 68A. The minority impact of the Bill cannot be determined because the number of new convictions cannot be estimated. Refer to the LSA memo addressed to the General Assembly, Minority Impact Statements, dated January 12, 2026, for information related to minorities in the criminal justice system.
Fiscal Impact
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 Defense Fund, and the DOC. Any cost increase or decrease would be incurred across multiple fiscal years for prison and parole supervision.
Sources
- Division of Data, Planning, and Improvement (DPI), Department of Management (DOM)
- Department of Corrections
- Campaign Material, Synthetic Media Disclosure · March 11, 2026 · $6,200
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91st General Assembly