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Bill

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Bill

SB 25

Revise election laws regarding disclosure requirements for the use of AI in elections

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Janet Ellis

Montana requires campaigns to disclose artificial intelligence use in election activities, promoting voter transparency about AI-generated political content.

Chapter Number Assigned
#communications(seealso:informationtechnology) #crimes #elections(seealso:ballotissues) #informationtechnology(seealso:communications) #liability(seealso:remedies;torts)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 25

Legislative bill overview

SB 25 requires campaigns and political organizations in Montana to disclose when they use artificial intelligence in election-related activities, including ads, communications, and voter outreach. The bill establishes transparency standards for AI-generated or AI-modified content used in political campaigns to inform voters about the nature of messaging they receive.

Why is this important

As AI becomes increasingly sophisticated and affordable, campaigns can create convincing synthetic content at scale without voters knowing its origin. This disclosure requirement aims to help voters evaluate the authenticity and potential bias of political messaging while giving them context about how campaigns are targeting them. The law reflects growing national concern about AI's role in elections and misinformation.

Potential points of contention

  • First Amendment questions: Political groups may argue disclosure mandates burden protected speech; courts have shown mixed tolerance for political content regulations
  • Definitional ambiguity: The bill's scope depends heavily on how "AI use" is defined—does it include basic spell-check, email filtering, or only generative AI? Vague definitions create compliance uncertainty
  • Enforcement challenges: Monitoring compliance across numerous campaigns and organizations requires significant regulatory resources; penalties must be substantial enough to deter non-disclosure without being punitive
  • Competitive disadvantage: Strict disclosure might disadvantage smaller campaigns with limited legal/compliance staff compared to well-funded operations
  • Technical feasibility: Distinguishing between AI-assisted and human-created content is technically complex; bad-faith actors could circumvent requirements

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

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