House Bill No. 142 introduces a new section to the Election Code, specifically Section 255.0015, which mandates disclosures for political advertising that includes altered media. The bill applies to officeholders, candidates, or political committees that spend over $100 on political advertising, excluding basic hardware and software costs. It prohibits the publication, distribution, or broadcasting of political ads that feature altered images, audio, or video of candidates or officeholders unless the alterations are superficial or a clear disclosure is provided indicating that the content did not occur in reality. The Texas commission is tasked with establishing the format for these disclosures to ensure consistency with existing advertising requirements.

Additionally, the bill establishes a criminal offense for violations of this section, classifying it as a Class A misdemeanor. However, it also provides immunity from liability for certain entities, including interactive computer services, internet service providers, and broadcasters, for political advertising that they did not directly create or control. The act is set to take effect 91 days after the conclusion of the legislative session.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()