House Bill No. 459, introduced by Representative Mandie Landry, aims to enhance the transparency of political materials by requiring disclosures related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in political campaigns. The bill amends existing law to stipulate that any political announcement or advertisement containing the image or likeness of a candidate created using AI must include a clear disclosure indicating its AI-generated nature. This requirement is designed to prevent the public from being misled by potentially deceptive representations of candidates. Additionally, the bill retains current provisions that mandate the disclosure of the third-party entity funding political communications, ensuring that voters are informed about the sources of campaign materials.

The legislation also increases the penalties for violations of these disclosure requirements, raising the maximum fine from $2,000 to $10,000 and allowing for imprisonment of up to two years. It clarifies the definition of "digital material" to encompass communications promoted for any form of payment, not just fees, and maintains the existing definition of "artificial intelligence" as per current law. Furthermore, the bill exempts media entities that broadcast political advertisements without control over their content from these requirements, thereby protecting them from liability in cases where they do not influence the material being aired.

Statutes affected:
HB459 Original: 18:1463(A)
HB459 Engrossed: 18:1463(A)