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

SSB 3039: Relating to the use of synthetic media in campaign materials, and making penalties applicable

Died when the session ended · The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died.

What it does

_____ 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.

Cost

See the fiscal note

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 January 15, 2026

Sen. Mike Bousselot (R) · mike.bousselot@legis.iowa.gov
Sen. Jeff Reichman (R) · jeff.reichman@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

January 15, 2026Filed in the Senate and sent to the State Government committee
January 15, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Bousselot, Reichman and Winckler
January 21, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it with changes