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HB 142

Relating to required disclosures on certain political advertising that contains altered media; creating a criminal offense.

89th Legislature, 1st Called Session (2025) Introduced by Dade Phelan

Texas HB 142 requires political advertisers to disclose altered media in ads and criminalizes violations, aiming to reduce electoral misinformation through synthetic content transparency.

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#advertising(s2680) #artificialintelligence(iq7c5) #ethicscommission #texas(v9939) #elections--campaignfinancing(i0290) #elections--candidates(i0280) #ethics(i0345)
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Bill Summary · HB 142

Legislative bill overview

HB 142 requires political advertisers to disclose when advertisements contain altered media (deepfakes, AI-generated content, or manipulated images/videos) and establishes criminal penalties for violations. The bill aims to increase transparency in political campaigns by mandating clear labeling of synthetic or substantially altered content used in political ads.

Why is this important

As synthetic media technology becomes more sophisticated and accessible, deepfakes and AI-generated content pose growing risks to electoral integrity and voter manipulation. This bill attempts to address misinformation by forcing advertisers to be transparent about whether political content has been artificially altered, allowing voters to make more informed decisions.

Potential points of contention

  • First Amendment concerns: Critics may argue that mandatory disclosure requirements for political speech could chill protected speech or face constitutional challenges as compelled political speech
  • Defining "altered media": The bill's effectiveness depends on clear definitions of what constitutes alteration—minor color correction versus substantial manipulation—which could create enforcement ambiguity and disputes
  • Criminal penalties severity: Using criminal offense designation rather than civil penalties raises questions about proportionality and whether this is the appropriate enforcement mechanism for disclosure violations
  • Practical compliance challenges: Advertisers may struggle with technical compliance across multiple platforms and formats, and enforcement could be difficult given the volume of political advertising

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

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