The bill, H.B. No. 2285, amends the Election Code to include provisions regarding political advertising distributed through mass text message campaigns. It defines "political advertising" to encompass communications that support or oppose candidates, political parties, or measures, specifically when disseminated as part of a mass text message campaign. Additionally, the bill introduces a new definition for "mass text message campaign," which refers to organized efforts to send text messages to multiple recipients in support of or opposition to political entities, provided that the campaign incurs costs exceeding basic hardware and software expenses.

Furthermore, the bill increases the civil penalty for violations related to political advertising from a maximum of $4,000 to $10,000. It also stipulates that each individual text message sent in violation of the regulations will be considered a separate offense for the purpose of assessing penalties. 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 255, Election Code 251)