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Bill

HSB 643

A bill for an act relating to the use of synthetic media in campaign materials, and making penalties applicable.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Requires clear disclosures for synthetic media in political campaigns to prevent deception and outlines penalties and enforcement for noncompliance.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 2609.
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Bill Summary · HSB 643

Bill Summary: HSB 643 (renumbered HF 2609) – 2025-2026 Iowa Session

Purpose and Intent

HSB 643, subsequently renumbered as HF 2609, aims to regulate the use of synthetic media in political campaign materials. The bill establishes requirements and penalties intended to deter the deceptive use of digitally generated or manipulated content in campaigns, with an emphasis on protecting voters from misinformation and ensuring transparency in political messaging.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Definition of Synthetic Media: The bill outlines what constitutes synthetic media (including digitally created or altered images, audio, or video used in campaign materials) and sets criteria for when such media falls under the act’s scope.

  • Disclosure and Transparency Requirements:

    • Campaign materials that incorporate synthetic media must include a clear disclosure indicating that content has been altered or generated, to avoid misleading viewers.
    • Disclosures may specify the nature of the manipulation, the date of creation, and the entity responsible for the material.

  • Applicability:

    • Applies to political campaigns, political advertisements, or campaign communications disseminated in Iowa.
    • Could extend to online platforms, broadcast media, print materials, and other channels used for campaign messaging.

  • Prohibitions and Restrictions:

    • Prohibits deceptive or misleading use of synthetic media in ways that could influence an election outcome, especially where the manipulation could reasonably mislead a substantial segment of the electorate.
    • May include prohibitions on using synthetic media to impersonate real persons without consent in a political context.

  • Penalties and Enforcement:

    • Establishes penalties for violations, which may include fines, corrective actions, or other sanctions as determined by enforcement authorities.
    • Creates an enforcement framework, potentially assigning authority to a state government or designated agency to investigate complaints and impose penalties.

  • Compliance and Record-Keeping:

    • Campaigns may be required to retain records related to synthetic media use, including disclosure notices, creation metadata, and sourcing information.
    • Possible reporting obligations during election cycles or upon request by enforcement agencies.

Affected Parties

  • Campaigns and Political Committees: Entities responsible for producing and distributing campaign materials using synthetic media must comply with disclosures and prohibitions.
  • Candidates and Political Actors: Individuals who sponsor or appear in synthetic media used for campaign purposes may be affected by restrictions and liability provisions.
  • Media Platforms and Distributors: Online platforms, broadcasters, print outlets, and other dissemination channels may be subject to disclosure requirements when distributing synthetic media related to campaigns.
  • Voters and the Public: The core aim is to protect voters from deceptive uses of synthetic media and promote transparency in political messaging.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced and Referred: Introduced on January 29, 2026, and referred to the State Government committee.
  • Subcommittee Consideration: Subcommittee met on February 4, 2026, with recommendations for amendment and passage.
  • Committee Action: Subcommittee proposed amendments; full committee reported favorably on February 17, 2026, recommending passage (yea 20, nay 1, excused 2).
  • Renumbering: The bill was renumbered to HF 2609 as it progressed through the committee process.

Practical Impact

  • Campaigns will need to integrate clear disclosures for any synthetic media, reducing the risk of fake or misleading campaign content being presented as authentic.
  • Enforcement mechanisms provide a pathway for addressing violations, potentially affecting campaign compliance budgeting and staffing for media production and legal review.
  • Platforms distributing campaign content will face additional responsibilities to ensure sensitive synthetic media is disclosed accurately, which may influence content moderation workflows.

If you’d like, I can pull the exact statutory language or map the bill’s provisions to a side-by-side comparison with current Iowa campaign disclosure rules.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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