House Bill No. by Representative Bayham aims to enhance transparency in political communications by requiring disclosures related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in campaign materials and telephone communications. The bill amends existing laws to stipulate that any political announcement or advertisement created using AI must include a clear and understandable disclosure indicating its AI origin. Additionally, it mandates that any telephone call or automated call advocating for or against a candidate or ballot proposition must also disclose if it was generated using AI. The bill emphasizes the importance of preventing public deception in political communications and establishes penalties for violations, including fines and potential imprisonment.

The proposed legislation amends R.S. 18:1463 and R.S. 18:1463.1, retaining existing requirements for identifying the source of political communications while adding new provisions specifically addressing AI-generated content. It defines "artificial intelligence" in accordance with R.S. 14:73.14 and applies the same penalties for violations of these new disclosure requirements as those currently in place for other electioneering communications. The bill reflects a growing concern about the integrity of the electoral process in the age of advanced technology and aims to ensure that voters are fully informed about the nature of the campaign materials they encounter.

Statutes affected:
HB639 Original: 18:1463(A), 18:1(D)