Skip to content

Session Expired

Your session has expired. Please sign in again to continue where you left off.

Sign In Again

IA HF2609: A bill for an act relating to the use of synthetic media in campaign materials, and making penalties applicable. (Formerly HSB 643.)

Passed One Chamber Iowa · 2025–2026 session

Last verified Oct 16, 2026 · official bill text

HF2609 · where it stands

2 of 5 steps complete
  1. Introduced Complete
  2. Passed first chamber Complete
  3. Passed both chambers
  4. Enacted
  5. Effective
What do these statuses mean?
Introduced
Filed in the legislature; may be waiting for a committee hearing.
Passed a chamber
Approved by one or both chambers; awaiting further action.
Enacted
Signed into law, or became law without a signature or over a veto.
Effective date
The date the law says it takes effect. Once it has passed, the page shows "Effective" and the date. A court order can still block a law; if we know of one, the summary says so.
Dead / vetoed
Vetoed, failed, or the session ended without action.

In one paragraph

Iowa's HF 2609 (formerly HSB 643) would require published campaign material containing synthetic media (realistic but false digitally manipulated images, audio or video of a real person) to carry the words "THIS CONTENT GENERATED USING SYNTHETIC MEDIA." The responsible person bears sole responsibility. Passed the House 89-2 on March 12, 2026 as amended; in Senate subcommittee March 17, 2026.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

None yet: the bill has not been enacted. If enacted, campaigns and others who pay for published political material with synthetic media would need to add the disclosure; hosting platforms are not the responsible person.

Key provisions

  1. New Code section 68A.407: published material (as defined in 68A.405) containing synthetic media must prominently include the words "THIS CONTENT GENERATED USING SYNTHETIC MEDIA."
  2. Synthetic media means an image, audio or video recording of a real individual intentionally manipulated with digital technology to be realistic but false; text generation, grammar correction, spelling checks and similar edits are excluded.
  3. As amended, the "person who is responsible" is the person who pays for creating or publishing the material and excludes a media or technology organization that publishes, broadcasts, distributes or hosts it; that person has sole responsibility and liability for the disclosure.
  4. The disclosure does not preclude other legal remedies; the board must adopt rules under chapter 17A.
  5. Status: amendment H-8058 adopted and passed the House 89-2 on March 12, 2026; read first time and referred to Senate State Government March 16, 2026.

Latest legislative action

Mar 17, 2026. Subcommittee: Rozenboom, Schultz, and Winckler. S.J. 587.

Sponsors (showing 5 of 42)

NameRole
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary
Primary

Roll call votes

Shall the bill pass? Mar 12, 2026

89 yea2 nay9 otherPassed

Topics and industries

Related topics

AI in Political Advertising

Affected industries

MediaGovernment

This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error

Related AI laws in Iowa

All Iowa bills →
SSB3039 A bill for an act relating to the use of synthetic media in campaign materials, SF2166 A bill for an act relating to the publication of electioneering communications c SF2243 An Act relating to sexual exploitation of a minor by the creation, adaptation, o HF2240 An Act relating to harassment by the dissemination, publishing, distribution, or HF2082 A bill for an act relating to restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence HSB294 A bill for an act relating to artificial intelligence, including the use of arti

Same topic in other states

Indiana HB1133 Use of digitally altered media in elections Idaho H0664 ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS – Freedom From AI-Rigged (FAIR) Elections Act: rel Texas SB751 Relating to the creation of a criminal offense for fabricating a deceptive video Rhode Island H5872 Relating to Elections -- Deceptive and Fraudulent Synthetic Media in Election Co California AB686 Elections: deceptive audio or visual media. New York S9678 Relates to requiring certain notice and disclosure regarding materially deceptiv