The bill, H.B. No. 2285, amends the Election Code to include provisions regarding political advertising distributed as part of a mass text message campaign. It defines "political advertising" to encompass communications that support or oppose candidates, political parties, or measures, specifically when disseminated through mass text message campaigns. A new definition for "mass text message campaign" is introduced, describing it as an organized effort to send text messages to multiple recipients in support of or opposition to political entities, which incurs costs beyond basic messaging expenses.

Additionally, the bill increases the civil penalty for violations related to political advertising from a maximum of $4,000 to $10,000. It specifies that each individual text message sent in violation of the regulations constitutes a separate violation, thereby potentially increasing the total penalties for offenders. The changes will apply only to political advertising distributed or broadcast after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025, with prior distributions governed by existing law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 251.001, Election Code 255.001 (Election Code 251, Election Code 255)