The bill, H.B. No. 401, aims to establish a criminal offense for creating and distributing misleading deep fake videos with the intent to influence election outcomes. It amends Section 255.004(d) of the Election Code, specifying that a person commits an offense if they create a deep fake video and distribute it with the intent to harm a candidate or affect election results. Notably, the bill removes the previous stipulation that such actions must occur within 30 days of an election.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that the amended law will only apply to offenses committed on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. Any offenses occurring before this date will be governed by the law in effect at that time, ensuring that prior actions are not subject to the new regulations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 255.004 (Election Code 255)