Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the use of synthetic media in campaign materials, and making penalties applicable
Proposed by the Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board · their explanation · all agency proposals
Topics:Elections & votingTechnology & privacyArtificial intelligence
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 15, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 15, 2026
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Skipped: House committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 12, 202689–2
- 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 include a notice if they use AI-generated or "synthetic" media in their advertisements. This rule applies to many types of media, including TV, internet ads, and printed signs. If someone intentionally breaks this law, they could face fines or jail time.1
Read the official explanation
_____ 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.
Changed since by amendment H-8058; see Amendments.
Senate subcommittee
Named January 15, 2026. On January 21, 2026 it recommended amendment and passage.
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
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.3
From the 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 Defense Fund, and the DOC. Any cost increase or decrease would be incurred across multiple fiscal years for prison and parole supervision.
- Campaign Material, Synthetic Media Disclosure · March 11, 2026 · $6,200
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91st General Assembly