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Bill Summary · HB 112

Overview

HB 112, Political Advertising Amendments, Creating 2026 Utah law, amends definitions and rules governing political advertising and electioneering communications. The bill expands coverage to include social media and other internet platforms, imposes new or clarified reporting and disclosure requirements, and authorizes monetary penalties for violations. It takes effect May 6, 2026.

Purpose and Intent

  • Clarify and broaden the scope of political advertising and electioneering communications.
  • Ensure greater disclosure of funding and supporting entities for political messages disseminated to the public.
  • Provide penalties to enforce compliance with advertising and reporting requirements.

Key Provisions

  • Definitions adjusted and expanded:
    • “Advertisement” now explicitly includes communications on the internet, social media, and other broad media.
    • “Electioneering communication” and related terms are defined with thresholds and timing around elections.
    • Expanded definitions for reporting entities, donors, expenditures, and contributions.
    • Clarifies what constitutes “coordinated with,” “in-kind contributions,” and other core terms.
  • Advertising disclosure requirements:
    • For election advertisements funded by a candidate or campaign committee, the ad must state clearly who paid and whether it is authorized by the candidate or campaign.
    • For ads paid by others but authorized by a candidate or committee, the sponsor must be disclosed, along with authorization status.
    • For ads not authorized by any candidate, the sponsor must be named and the ad labeled as not authorized.
    • Ballot proposition ads have parallel disclosure requirements, including identification of the sponsor and whether the sponsor is a political issues committee.
  • Social media and online disclosures:
    • Electioneering communications disseminated online (including social media) are subject to the same disclosure principles as traditional media.
  • Reporting and penalties:
    • Violations related to disclosure or reporting can trigger monetary fines.
    • The lieutenant governor may impose a $1,000 fine for violations related to statewide, legislative, federal offices, or school board elections, and for disclosure violations tied to statewide or other high-profile targets.
    • Local officials (county or municipal clerks) may impose up to $500 fines for violations tied to local offices or propositions.
    • Fines may be limited to one per advertisement for certain violations, or one per act/omission for others.
    • Fines collected by the state go to the General Fund; local fines go to the appropriate political subdivision’s general fund.
    • A respondent has an opportunity to contest fines with a preponderance of the evidence.
  • Effective date:
    • May 6, 2026.

Who Is Affected

  • Reporting entities: candidates, candidate committees, officeholders, party committees, PACs, political issues committees, corporations, and labor organizations.
  • Donors and sponsors: individuals and organizations funding or authorizing political advertisements or electioneering communications.
  • Auditing and enforcement bodies: lieutenant governor (state level) and county/municipal clerks (local level).
  • General public: recipients and audiences of political advertising, particularly those exposed to online or social media political messaging.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective date: May 6, 2026.
  • Fines and enforcement: structured fines with potentially one per advertisement (for certain violations) or one per act/omission (for others); funds allocated to General Fund or local general funds.
  • Legislative history and action path:
    • Referred to House Government Operations Committee; substituted and advanced through committee and floor actions in early 2026.
    • Underwent revisions (2nd and 3rd Substitutes) with fiscal notes indicating potential revenue from fines but no net program cost to state government.
    • Senate actions show passage through committees and referral back to Rules; final statuses indicate a complex enactment path typical of bill amendments.

Fiscal Notes (Summary)

  • Revenue: Potential state General Fund gain of $1,000 per violation related to statewide/legislative/federal advertising, but total impact is unknown. Local governments could gain ~$500 per local violation.
  • Expenditures: Expected to be minimal; no significant new program costs anticipated.
  • Regulatory impact: Limited changes to regulatory burden anticipated for residents and businesses.

Bottom Line

HB 112 tightens disclosure requirements for political advertising, explicitly covering online and social media platforms, and creates monetary penalties for violations. It aims to increase transparency around who funds and authorizes political ads and electioneering communications, with enforcement by state and local election officials beginning May 2026.

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

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