HF 2609 (LSB 5522HV (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2609

BY  COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 643)

(As Amended and Passed by the House 2026-03-12)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the use of synthetic media in campaign materials, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  68A.407  Synthetic media —— disclosure.
   1.  For purposes of this section:
   a.  “Person who is responsible” means the person who pays for the publication or creation of published material. “Person who is responsible” does not mean a media or technology organization publishing, broadcasting, distributing, or hosting published material on behalf of another person.
   b.  (1)  “Synthetic media” means an image, audio recording, or video recording of an individual’s appearance, speech, or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of any form of digital technology in a manner to create a realistic but false image, audio recording, or video recording that produces any of the following:
   (a)  A depiction of an individual in appearance, speech, or conduct that a reasonable individual would believe depicts a real individual.
   (b)  A materially different understanding or impression than a reasonable individual would have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording, or video recording.
   (2)  “Synthetic media” does not include content created using digital technology solely for text generation, grammar correction, spelling checks, stylistic editing, or enhancing existing content without creating a new impersonation of a human likeness or voice.
   2.  Published material, as defined in section 68A.405, that contains synthetic media must prominently include the words “THIS CONTENT GENERATED USING SYNTHETIC MEDIA”. The person who is responsible for the published material has the sole responsibility and liability for inclusion of the disclosure required by this subsection.
   3.  The inclusion of the disclosure required by this section does not preclude a person from pursuing any other remedies under law for the publication of synthetic media.
   4.  The board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to implement this section.