SB141
Political campaign advertisements; synthetic media, penalty.
Status:
In Conference
Latest Action:
March 12, 2026
House: House Conferees: Hayes, Maldonado, Pence
Chief Patron:
Saddam Azlan Salim (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Elections; political campaign advertisements; synthetic media; penalty.
Prohibits electioneering communications containing synthetic media, as those terms are defined in the bill, from being published or broadcast without containing the following conspicuously displayed statement: 'This message contains synthetic media that has been altered from its original source or artificially generated and may present conduct or speech that did ... (More) not occur.' The bill creates a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000 for a violation of such prohibition and a Class 1 misdemeanor for a willful violation. The bill permits any registered voter who receives an electioneering communication in violation of this requirement to institute an action for preventative relief to prohibit the publication or dissemination of such electioneering communication, including an application for a permanent or temporary injunction. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/06/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100611D
- 01/06/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- 01/29/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB141)
- 02/10/2026 - Senate: Reported from Privileges and Elections with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
- 02/10/2026 - House: House committee offered
- 02/10/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute printed 26107736D-S1
- 02/11/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB141)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/12/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
- 02/13/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)
- 02/16/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (34-Y 4-N 0-A)
- 02/19/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/19/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/19/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
- 02/25/2026 - House: Placed on Privileges and Elections Agenda
- 02/27/2026 - House: Referred from Privileges and Elections and referred to Communications, Technology and Innovation and rereferred to Communications, Technology and Innovation (Voice Vote)
- 02/27/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Communications, Technology and Innovation
- 03/02/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB141)
- 03/06/2026 - House: Placed on Communications, Technology and Innovation Agenda
- 03/09/2026 - House: House committee offered
- 03/09/2026 - House: Reported from Communications, Technology and Innovation with substitute (15-Y 6-N)
- 03/09/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26109370D-H1
- 03/11/2026 - House: Read second time
- 03/11/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB141)
- 03/12/2026 - House: Read third time
- 03/12/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 03/12/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 03/12/2026 - House: Passed House with substitute (62-Y 34-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
- 03/12/2026 - House: House insisted on substitute
- 03/12/2026 - House: House requested conference committee
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
- 03/12/2026 - Senate: Senate Conferees: Salim, Perry, French
- 03/12/2026 - House: Conferees appointed by House
- 03/12/2026 - House: House Conferees: Hayes, Maldonado, Pence
